Assessing the Performance of Community Policing on Crime Prevention in Tanzania:

Abstract

This research was concerned with assessing the performance of community policing as related to crime prevention in Tanzania by using Moshi Municipality as a case of study. While community has been found to have a worldwide profound performance, relatively its rational performance has not proved proficiency, consistency and positivity as expected. This prompted for the critical study. Among other things, the study was significant in enhancing the understanding of the role of communities in crime prevention. Moreover, the Concept of Community Policing and performance were explored to bring out appropriate meaning. Two theories of Community-Oriented Policing Theory and Problem Oriented Policing Theory, which seemed to compliment and work together were utilized. Empirical literature reviews were concerned with strategies employed by community policing on crime reduction; the impact of community policing on reducing crime in the community; and the critical challenges in administering community policing in societies aspects. Consequentially, empirical reviews show many gaps including the absence of a social work perspective in evaluating community policing in developing countries. The study specifically adopted a case study descriptive design with a mixture of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The targeted population for the study involved the Ward Executive Officers (WEOs), Ward Police (WP), District Commissioner (DC), Police Officer in Charge of District (OCD), community members and street chairpersons. Both random sampling and non random sampling were used to select the sample that amounted to 100 people. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were implemented in this study to gather primary data while secondary data depended solely on documentary reports. Quantitative data were analysed by use of SPSS and qualitative data done by using thematic analysis. The study came out with fundamental components of Community Policing that included community collaboration, issue resolution, and organizational change, as community collaboration and problem solving. Little has been achieved in terms of organizational change in relation to the community policing –police relationship. Generally, the study discovered that the communities in was actively supporting police initiatives, particularly when directly or indirectly impacted by crime, and a significant number of individuals hold positive attitudes toward community policing, and expressed a willingness to engage in community policing. The study recommended that the police force should strengthen the police –community relationship so as to enhance greater performance on the community policing. Other actors of good governance: That is the state, the business, and the civil societies are called for more engagement into the community policing as the future trend declare for such a demand. Further studies can consider regression and correlation analysis between Community policing and security performance in different places.