dc.description.abstract |
Community policing are evolving social welfare approach towards maintaining peace and
security. Adopted from experiences of developed nations, community policing (CP) was applied
in Ethiopia since 2005. Despite the fact that this practice improved community involvement in
security issues and decreased criminal incidents, its overall performance is inadequately
investigated. In addition, regardless of the last thirteen and more years where CP was under
implementation, it is still unripe and different aspects are not well discovered. This qualitative
research applied case study to explore opportunities, challenges and responses in the course of
practicing CP in Bahir Dar City Administration (BDCA). Primary data have been collected
through in-depth & key informant interview and focus group discussion from thirty-four
participants selected through purposive sampling. Employing thematic analysis technique;
descriptive data have been transcribed, coded, grouped and interpreted. The research identified
various issues affiliated as opportunities, challenges and responses to CP. Community
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Abstract
collaboration, increased sense of ownership manifested by provision of various inputs and
invo~ment of priva:e and public partners are major opportunities. On the other han~, lack of
trained police officers and low competency, inadequate resources and conflict of interest
between police officers and justice system are pressing challenges. To cope up with these
challenges, the police department conducted community and stakeholders' engagement, resource
mobilization, police outreach and overtime works and engaging criminals in different income
generating activities. The overall CP practice involves strength, limitations and other issues
simultaneously. Bence it is possible to conclu~e that more ~uccesses could be secured if parties
exert additional effort to ease challenges and build up on existing opportunities. The overall
research finding implied that 'there is a need for social work practitioners to intervene in
community policing around community education, increase the capacity of police officers in
communication and counseling tkills, resources and community mobilization, resource mapping
and criminal identification and management. Moreover, it is indicated that future researches has
to be done around trends and effectiveness of CP, the contribution of community supports in
alleviating CP challenges |
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