Transcript Slide 1
Citizen and officer perceptions of community policing in Ghana: Policing of,
by, and for the people, or just to the people?
American Society of Criminology
November 15, 2007 Atlanta, Georgia Dr. Angela West Crews Dr. Gordon A. Crews
Washburn University
OVERVIEW & INTRODUCTION
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Ghana & the Ghana Police Service
• The Republic of Ghana (1957) – 22 million people, 10 administrative regions,10 regional Houses of Chiefs (chieftaincies) – Ghanaian Citizens • Police= social control & order; corrupt, brutal • Prefer traditional system?
– Ghana Police Service • 13 regions; 51 divisions; 179 districts; 651 stations & posts; 17,000 sworn personnel; ratio 1/1200 3
American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews
METHODS
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PILOT PROJECT
• Preparation for grant applications • 88 random household surveys from 7 cities in 4 regions – Likert-type scales • 25 officer surveys – Likert-type scales
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ANALYSIS & RESULTS
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Officer Demographics (N=25)
• Primarily supervisors & administrators • Served GPS for 14 years • About 19 hrs/wk in “preventative police work” – Median = 8 hrs/wk • 91% married • About 38 years old • About 18 years of education • Primarily of Akan ethnicity 7
American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews
Officer Surveys
• • •
I The Community
– 5 sections related to officer perceptions about crime & policing in their communities
II The Ghana Police Service
– 10 sections related to officer perceptions of the Ghana Police Service
III Officer Comments
– 4 statements assessed qualitatively 8
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Analysis
• Qualitative/Content Analysis of Comments – 4 open-ended statements • Descriptive Analysis (SPSS) – Officer Perceptions of Their Communities – Officer Perceptions of the GPS
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Officer Surveys
Officer Perceptions of Their Communities
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Perceived Seriousness of Crime/Behavior (37 items)
• Severe: – Traffic congestion (62.5%) • Moderate: – Unlawful drug use (62.5%) • Severe/Moderate: –
Assaults (84%)
– Traffic congestion (83.5%) –
Property theft (77%)
• • Not a problem: Tribal/ethnic fraud (56.5%)
Unsure/Missing: Graffiti (73%)
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Influential Factors in Crime Rates (24 factors)
• Extremely influential: – limited police presence, poverty/low income, lack of jobs/unemployment (56%) –
corruption among citizens
, poor parenting (44%) • Moderately influential: –
corruption in local businesses
(48%) • Not influential: – things related to the traditional system/transition/conflicts (56.5%) 12
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Perceived Effectiveness in Decreasing Crime (18 factors)
• Very effective: – Better education & prevention by police,
partnerships
between the police & other agencies (54%) • Somewhat effective: – Greater use of probation (50%) • Very/somewhat effective – Increased police patrols (96%) – Punishment by the courts (88%) – Increased
community group involvement
(83.5%) 13
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Perceived Personal Safety
“Compared to other cities in Ghana that you know of, how safe is your city?”
•
1: Much safer (42%)
• 2: Slightly safer (21%) • 3: About the same (25%) • 4: Less safe (12.5%) • 5: Much less safe (0%)
“Compared to 5 years ago, how safe do you personally feel in your city?”
•
1: Much safer (43.5%)
• 2: Slightly safer (17%) • • • 3: About the same (17%)
4: Less safe (17%) 5: Much less safe (4%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews
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Officer Surveys
Officer Perceptions of the Ghana Police Service
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Officer Morale
“How would you rate your current morale (job satisfaction) level?”
• • • 1: Very high (17%)
2: Somewhat high (35%)
• 3: Neutral (13%) • 4: Somewhat low (13%)
5: Very low (22%)
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Perceived Effectiveness of the GPS (12 things)
• • • •
Very effective:
– Communicating important information through appropriate channels (48%)
Somewhat effective:
– Providing fair & consistent treatment (48%)
Very/somewhat effective:
– Communicating important information & promoting the GPS to the public (64%)
Very/somewhat ineffective:
–
Involving employees in research & planning (44%)
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Perceived Program Effectiveness (14 programs)
• • •
Very effective:
–
Directed patrol to high incident areas (58%)
– DVVSU (44%) – Police cadet program &
bike patrol (32%)
Very/Somewhat effective:
– Traffic enforcement (100%) – DVVSU (92%) –
Directed patrol (83%)
Somewhat/Very ineffective:
– Programs for at-risk youth (33%) –
Bike patrol (28%)
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Perceived Potential Goals of GPS (17 goals)
•
Very/Somewhat Important (96%):
–
Providing crime prevention services
– Technology improvements – Increasing number of patrol cars – Developing positive working relationships with each other –
Increasing community partnerships
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Perceived Current GPS Priorities
• • •
“What do you think are the current policing priorities of the GPS?”
(Rank 1-3)
Ranked 1 (“most important”):
•
Promoting police-community partnerships & collaborations (32%)
• Crime prevention (24%) • Emergency calls (16%)
Ranked 1, 2, or 3:
• •
Promoting police-community partnerships & collaborations (68%) Crime prevention (68%) Encouraging compliance, education & problem solving rated lowest
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• • •
Perceived Important Future GPS Priorities
“Please rank the top 5 activities from the following list that you think SHOULD be the focus of the GPS’s current Community Policing strategy.”
Ranked 1 (“most important”):
•
Increasing the level of involvement by neighborhood residents (56%)
Ranked 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5
•
Increasing the level of involvement by neighborhood residents (100%)
• Increase ability to analyze crime & quality of life problems & evaluate strategies used to address them (84%) • Increase police presence (80%) 21
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Officer Preference for Training
•
“Which of the following trainings would you like to see implemented or expanded?”
• Check all that apply from 14 options
92%
of all officers checked: – Community policing – Computers/software – Investigative skills – Tactical operations – Crime analysis 22
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Officer Agreement with 7 Statements About GPS
• •
Strongly agree/agree:
– Officers more effective if they
“look beyond the call”
(96%) – Officers should
initiate activity
during shifts (88%) – Better to have
fixed
rather than random areas (80%)
Disagree/strongly disagree:
– Community service detracts from crime fighting (64%) –
Communication is adequate (40%)
–
Current level of accountability is good (36%)
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Perceived Community Support
“How supportive are the residents of your city of the GPS?”
• 1: Very supportive (12.5%) •
2: Somewhat supportive (54%)
• 3: Neither supportive nor unsupportive (8%) • 4: Somewhat unsupportive (17%) • 5: Very unsupportive (8%) 24
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Discussion & Conclusions
Facilitators of & Barriers to Community Policing Initiatives in Ghana
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Implementation in Ghana?
• Practical logistics/Timeline –Personnel changes almost DAILY • Realistic expectations
– Citizen perceptions/Cultural issues – Resources/Cost – Support (Above and Below)
• Barriers (Internal and External)
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INTERNAL BARRIERS
INTERNAL BARRIERS
• •
Human Resource Development/Training Gaps
– Training gaps • No in-service training or specialized training • Some specialized training by outsiders for upper ranks • Implications for performance, professionalism, and modernization to cope with new and emerging crimes
Inadequate IT and Communication Facilities
– Lack of trained personnel /Obsolete equipment – Criminal records and other operations systems ineffective – Inadequate accommodation, vehicles and logistics support. 28
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EXTERNAL BARRIERS
EXTERNAL BARRIERS
Ghanaian institution perceived as most affected by corruption The Ghana Police Service ( 76.8% )
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EXTERNAL BARRIERS
• •
Perception of Police by Citizens AND Perception of Citizens by Police
– – – –
Citizens : we have to PAY Citizens : we see BRIBERY for service Police : they will NOT COME to us for service everyday Police : we see VIGILANTE JUSTICE everyday “What will happen as police have MO R E and MO R E cont act w it h citizens?”
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FACILITATORS
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Facilitators
• •
Willingness
of many to participate and offer assistance – IGP/Ghana Police Service – US Embassy – NOBLE – University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast – Ghanaian community in Lawrence and Topeka, Kansas
Collaboration
and continued training from international partners (USA, UK, and France) 33
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Recommendations
• Increase public awareness of official anti-corruption measures • Improve internal management practices, salaries, and working conditions • Promote ethics and accountability • Poverty-reduction strategies should be enhanced to improve on the living conditions of the people • Prioritize reforms in important but “troubled” public agencies • Create more employment opportunities for ALL as …
“the devil provides work for the idle hand”
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Any Questions?
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Contact Information for Author
Gordon A. Crews, Ph.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology
Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia 25755 crewsg@marshall.edu/304.696.3083