POLICE BEHAVIOUR AND IDENTIFICATION OF CRIMINALS IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH STATES

Year 2018, Volume: 2018 Issue: 2, 32 - 48, 26.10.2018

Osayemwenre Omoroghomwan

Abstract

Research have proven that identification of criminals by the police is found to have a strong link with Police Officers behaviour which include police use of detection, service, arrest and citation; and force. In criminal identification, while most scholars opine that Western Police focus more attention on proactive policing behaviour as such using more of service and detection to
identify crime; studies conducted in most developing countries in Africa show police are giving much attention to reactive policing behavior such as using force, arrest and citation from criminal identification. This study therefore x-rays the four (4) known policing behavioural strategies towards criminal identification among police personnel in Nigeria; particularly the South-South Region. This study adopted the Cross-sectional research design and surveyed 217 respondents. Hypotheses formulated were test using the Linear Regression, focusing on correlation coefficient, F-statistics, T-statistics, R2 adjusted and the un-standardized Beta parameters. Findings from thus study reveals that police use of service and detection is vital to criminal identification because it will assist and support them to track crime activities. and recommended that Nigerian Police Force should provoke more of participative policing; allowing victims and community members to involve in intelligent gathering process; creating a visible platform for people to assist them.

Keywords

Police Behaviour, Criminal Identification, Arrest, Service, Force, Detection

POLICE BEHAVIOUR AND IDENTIFICATION OF CRIMINALS IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH STATES

Abstract

Research have proven that identification of criminals by the police is
found to have a strong link with Police Officers behaviour which include police
use of detection, service, arrest and citation; and force. In criminal identification,
while most scholars opine that Western Police focus more attention on proactive
policing behaviour as such using more of service and detection to identify
crime; studies conducted in most developing countries in Africa show police are
giving much attention to reactive policing behavior such as using force, arrest
and citation from criminal identification. This study therefore x-rays the four
(4) known policing behavioural strategies towards criminal identification among
police personnel in Nigeria; particularly the South-South Region. This study
adopted the Cross-sectional research design and surveyed 217 respondents.  Hypotheses formulated were test using the
Linear Regression, focusing on correlation coefficient, F-statistics,
T-statistics, R² adjusted and the un-standardized Beta parameters.
Findings from thus study reveals that police use of service and detection is
vital to criminal identification because it will assist and support them to
track crime activities. and recommended that Nigerian Police Force should
provoke more of participative policing; allowing victims and community members
to involve in intelligent gathering process; creating a visible platforms for
people to assist them.

 

Keywords

Police Behaviour, Criminal Identification, Arrest, Service, Force

References

• Adang, O. M. J., & Mensink, J. (2004). Pepper spray: An unreasonable response to suspect verbal resistance. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 27(2), 206-219. Adler, J. S. (2007). Shoot to kill: The use of deadly force by the Chicago police, 1875–1920. Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 38(2), 233–254.Alemika, E.O. (1993b). Colonialism, state and policing in Nigeria. Crime, Law and Social Change 20:189 -219.Alpert, G. P., & Dunham, R. G. (2004). Understanding police use of force: Officers, suspects, and reciprocity. Cambridge University Press, New York.Bertomen, L. (2005). Launching less lethal rounds. Law Enforcement Technology. 32(2), 112-119. Borelli, F. (2001). Twenty-one feet is way too close. The Law Enforcement Trainer, 16(4), 12-15. Bowling, M., Gaines, M., & Petty, C. (2003). Effectiveness and Safety of Pepper Spray. United States Department of Justice; National Institute of Justice.Carvalho, A. (2008). The sliding scale approach to protecting nonresident immigrants against the use of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Emory International Law Review, 22(1), 247–282. Clarke, D. C & D. A. Thomas (2015). Crime, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., Retrieved 21st October, 2017 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/crime-law/Crime-and-social-policyCLEEN, (2015). Crime and public safety in Nigeria. Center for Law Enforcement Education and the National Human Rights Commission, Lagos.Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design – Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 3rd Ed. Thousand Oakes: Sage Publications Darroch, S. F. (2009). Intelligence-Led policing in New Zealand. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Faculty of Arts, Griffith University & ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security (CEPS), Griffith University, New ZealandDike, P. (2010). Nigeria and the quest for an enduring security mechanism. Paper on National Security at the Royal United Service Institute, London, March 26, 2010.Dufka, C. (2010). Force operational handbook. Nigeria: Report Shines Light son Nigerian Police Corruption. August 18th.Engle, R. and R. Worden. (2003). Police Officers’ Attitudes, Behavior, and Supervisory Influences: An Analysis of Problem Solving. Criminology 41: 131 - 166Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (2012). Crime in the United States 2012: Persons Arrested, available at: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/persons-arrested/persons-arrested.Hipp, J. R. (2007). “Block, tract, and levels of aggregation: Neighborhood structure and crime and disorder as a case in point.” American Sociological Review,. 72(5)Hopkins, P. & Beary, K. (2003). TASER use and officer/suspect injuries. Orlando, Florida: Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Hougland, S., Mesloh, C., & Henych, M. (2005). Use of Force, Civil Litigation, and the Taser: One Agency’s Experience. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 74(3), 24-30. Hubbs, K., & Klinger, D. (2004). Impact munitions: Data base of use and effects. U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2001). Law enforcement canines concepts and issues paper. Washington: IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center.Kinnaird, B. A. (2007). Exploring liability profiles: A proximate cause analysis of police misconduct: Part II. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 9(3), 201–213. Lee, J., & Gibbs, J. (2015). Race and attitudes toward police: The mediating effect of social distance. Policing. 38(2), 314-332. doi:10.1108/PIJPSM-03-2015-0034Lichtenberg, I. (2007). Contacts between the police and the public: Three tests of convergent validity. Police Practice & Research, 8(1), 47–62. Manzoni, P., & Eisner, M. (2006). Violence between the police and the public: Influences of work-related stress, job satisfaction, burnout, and situational factors. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33(5), 613-645. Mayor, A. (2003). Greek fire, poison arrows, and scorpion bombs: Biological and chemical warfare in the ancient world. New York: Overlook Press. McCluskey, J., Terrill, W., & Paoline, E. III. (2005). Peer group aggressiveness and the use of coercion in police-suspect encounters. Police Practice & Research, 6(1), 19–37. Meade, P. (2006). Police and domestic dog bite injuries: What are the differences? What are the implications about police dog use? Injury Extra, 37, 395-401Mesloh, C. & Hougland, S. (2004, December). TASER deployments and injuries: Analysis of current and emerging trends. Presented as a workshop at the International S.W.A.T. Round-Up, Orlando, Florida, December 2004. Mesloh, C. & Hougland, S. (2005). Use of force and less lethal weapons: Emerging trends in the application of force. Presented as a workshop at the 42nd Annual Conference of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, Mesloh, C. & Thompson, F. (2006). Edged weapons: Current law enforcement issues and less lethal weapons solutions. Presented as a workshop at the Nebraska Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association Annual Conference, North Platte, Nebraska,.Mesloh, C. and Surette, R. (2002). From killers to cuddlers: An analysis of news media coverage regarding the law enforcement canine. Police Forum, 12(4), 1–14. Nadal, L.K & Davidoof, K. C. (2015). Perception of police scale (POPS). Measuring attitudes towards law enforcement and belief about police bias. Journal of Psychology and Behavioural Science 3 (2) 1-9National Population Commission (2006). Survey report. Calabar: National Population Commission.Orange County Sheriff’s Office. (2007). General Orders. (Available from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 2500 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32804). Orlando Police Department. (2007). Orlando Police Department Policy and Procedure. (Available from the Orlando Police Department, PO Box 913, Orlando, FL 32802-0913) Ostrom, B., Kauder, N., & LaFountain, R. (2001). Examining the work of state courts, 2001: A national perspective from the Court Statistics Project. Williamsburg, VA: National Center for State Courts. Otu, N. (2006). The police service and liability insurance: Responsible policing. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 8(4), 294–315. Otuyelu, F., Graham, W., & Kennedy, S. A. (2016). The death of Black males: The unmasking of cultural competence and oppressive practices in a micro-aggressive environment. Journal Of Human Behavior In The Social Environment,26(3/4), 430-436 7p. doi:10.1080/10911359.2016.1139994.Parker, K. F., MacDonald, J. M., Jennings, W. G., & Alpert, G. P. (2005). Racial threat, urban conditions and police use of force: Assessing the direct and indirect linkages across multiple urban areas. Justice Research and Policy, 7(1), 53-79.Payne, E., Almasy, S., & Pearson, M. (2015). Police: Freddie Gray didn't get timely medical care after arrest. Retrieved March 19, 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/24/us/baltimore-freddie-gray-death/.Petrowski, T. D. (2002). Use-of-force policies and training a reasoned approach: Part two. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 71(11), 24–32. Pollak, O. (1950). Criminality of Women. Baltimore: University of Pennsylvania Press.Rosenbaum D. P., Schuck, A. M., Graziano, L. M., & Stephens, C. D. (2007). Measuring police and community performance using web-based surveys: Findings from the Chicago Internet Projects, Centre for Research in Law and Justice, Department of Criminal Justice, University of Illinois, ChicagoSherman, L. (1983). Reducing Police Gun Use: Critical Events, Administrative Policy, and Organizational Change, In M. Punch (ed), Control in the Police Organization. Cambridge: The MIT Press.Sykes, R. and E. Brent (1983) Policing: A Social Behaviorist Perspective. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.Tolliver, W. F., Hadden, B. R., Brown-Manning, R., & Snowden, F. (2016). Police killings of unarmed Black people: Centering race and racism in human behavior and the social environment content. Journal Of Human Behavior In The Social Environment, 26(3/4), 279-286 8p. doi:10.1080/10911359.2015.1125207.U.S. Department of Justice. (2014). Community policing defined. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/vets-to-cops/e030917193- CP-Defined.pdf.Walker, S & Katz, C (2012), The police in America: An introduction. McGraw Hill Higher Education.Wansbrough, L. (2008). Less than legal force? An examination of the legal control of the police use of force in New Zealand. Auckland University Law Review, 14, 176–216. Zhao, J. S., & Ren, L. (2015). Exploring the dimensions of public attitudes toward the police. Police Quarterly, 18(1), 3-26. doi:10.1177/1098611114561304.