Abstract:
Crime is a significant contributor to global insecurity and hampers development.
Despite traditional policing efforts, the escalating crime rates have led to a demand for
a shift from military-based to democratic-based policing, known as community
policing, which aims to prevent crime. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of
community policing in preventing crime in the Effutu Municipality of the Central
Region of Ghana. Ten participants were selected using purposive sampling, including
representatives from the Crime Department of the Effutu Municipal Command,
Community Police Assistants, and opinion leaders from three communities: Essuekyir,
Winneba, and New Winneba. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather
information from these key informants. The data were translated, reviewed,
categorized, summarized, and interpreted to draw evidence-based conclusions. The
study revealed that community policing officers utilize various strategies, such as
evening patrols, to combat crime and ensure community safety. The study found that,
the presence of community police has helped alleviate fear and anxiety among
residents, fostering a sense of security and enabling smooth business activities.
However, challenges such as a lack of public trust in the police, insufficient financial
support, and limited resources hinder the operationalization of community policing.
This as the study revealed has restrained the community policing program to fully
achieve its objective of protecting lives and property in the Effutu Municipality. The
study concluded that community policing is significant in ensuring community safety,
fostering collaboration, and enhancing trust between the police and the community. The
study recommends the development of a security framework that encourages shared
decision-making between the police and community members in the Effutu Municipal
area, with a focus on peace, security, and development.
Description:
A thesis in the Centre for Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies,
Faculty of Social Sciences, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in the partial fulfilment of
the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Human Rights, Conflict and Peace Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba
