Policing as viewed by police and the community: opportunities and challenges of cooperation in crime prevention in jimma town

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the views of police and the community towards policing. Policing in general is rarely studied in Ethiopia, especially in Jimma town. As the result, efforts were exerted to fill this research gap by investigating the existing condition of police-community partnership and factors affecting the partnership in Jimma town of Oromia National Regional State. Methodologically, the study employed case study design as it gives the opportunity to use multiple methods of data collection. The data were collected from purposively but systematically selected interviewees, focus group participants and key informants. Therefore two key informants, fourteen informants were interviewed from the local community and police (community policing and regular police officers). Additionally, two focus group discussions were held with the local community and police. The data collected through these instruments were analyzed using thematic and narrative qualitative data analysis technique. The results of the study show that the community is less energetic to resist deviant behavior/crime as a local concern; low social solidarity in police as well as between police and community; uncontrolled crime and unsafe community indicating poor police performance or ineffective policing in the town; and that policing has been challenged by unnecessary interference of administrative authorities, lack of police integrity and low of social solidarity. The study also identified that community policing and its fruits like the formation of security boards and construction of community policing houses are the existing opportunities of cooperation in crime prevention in Jimma town. Based on the results, the study forwarded policy recommendations focusing, mainly, on the enhancement of social solidarity within police and between police and the community.