Assessing The Performance of Police Integrity in Fighting Against Crimes in Tanzania:

Abstract

The high rates of crime and high levels of insecurity in Tanzania present a serious challenge to democratic consolidation and the construction of a peaceful society. Experience has demonstrated that the police are not able to resolve these complex social problems by themselves; rather, a more proactive, preventative approach that relies upon the involvement of the whole community is necessary. This study assesses the performance of police integrity in fighting and reporting crimes in Tanzania: the case of Temeke District. The research used a sample of 53 participants from a population of 112 police officers, whose responses were collected through the survey instrument: questionnaires. The study has shown that when people view the police as ineffective, useless, or uncaring, there is a decreased likelihood that they will report a crime. Similarly, when police corruption is disclosed, it deters police from acting with integrity in the fight against crime. The Performance Indicators of Police Integrity in Fighting Against Crime as the first objective of the study show that high crime rates and pervasive police misconduct, including illegal arrest and detention, torture and excessive use of force, corruption, favouritism, extrajudicial executions, and abuse of due process, are longstanding problems. Objectives on the reasons why most crimes are not fought by the police as a way of maintaining integrity in the police force Findings show that people may decide not to report crimes they experience for many and complex reasons. A study shows most frequently that there are no police stations or police stations are too far away where the police don’t listen, don’t care, or would not have been able to do anything, and that the police would have demanded money or a bribe where corruption presents several dangers in reporting crimes. Lastly, the study objective is to find an appropriate measure to bring about police performance in fighting crime. The study shows community policing as the prominent method that is used by TPF to prevent crime. This technique involves the partnership between police and the community in the prevention of crime. Using scientific tools and evidence to prosecute offenders and impose penalties on offenders is a very effective way to prevent crime. The study concludes that the lack of police integrity, the difficulty of getting to police stations, and the police's slow response times are largely responsible for the low number of crimes that are reported to the police. Police integrity is essential to Tanzania's efforts to combat crime. Bringing police stations closer to communities can help increase crime reporting and police integrity in the fight against crime, though not all of the reasons given for low crime reporting are valid. The study recommends that by improving their operations, the Tanzania Police Force should continue to reduce crime, and police personnel should cultivate an environment of commitment, ethics, and integrity, as this will lead to high performance and effectively prevent crime. The Tanzania Police Force should also strongly maintain the sources of criminal intelligence, such as informants and technological tools.