The Role of Community Policing in Reducing Crime in Addi Haki Sub City, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Community policing is a government funded initiative built on the premise that everyone should be working to reduce the fear of crime. The general objective of this study was to assess the role of community policing to reduce crime in Addi Haki, sub city of Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. In this study mixed research method was employed. The study has based on explanatory and descriptive design were used for analyzing the data and 5230 target population were involved in community policing program. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of 213 respondents. In this study FGD, interview, and questionnaire were used for collecting data. Both the primaries and secondary sources of data were used in this study. The questionnaires were distributed to the relevant respondents, filled in, collected and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in form of tables, charts and graphs. The data was analyzed using various statistical soft-wares such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and Microsoft Excel. The finding of the study shows that some limitation such as insufficient resources, and negative perception by the public. However, in the study the researcher concluded the four areas of focus, community policing was found to less effective. Therefore the researcher recommended that sustained programs should be enhanced through organized community policing meetings with the public in order to educate the members of the public on how community policing works and how to improve good relationship with the police.