fight crime
In today`s world there is considerable debate over what the role of police officers should be. Some believe that the main role of the police is to fight crime. Others perceive the role to encompass service to society beyond simply maintaining law and order, to include contributing to efforts dealing with the underlying causes of crime.
Policing in Africa has many challenges which can lead police officers to be skeptical or even cynical about their effectiveness and role. There are a number of factors that contribute to this.
Depressing socio-economic conditions and growing criminality in urban areas demoralize police officers. Many of the situations they experience cause them to lose faith in others and, as a result, develop an “us versus them” outlook. As a consequence, police officers socialize with fewer and fewer people outside law enforcement circles, and in some cases even gradually withdraw from their families and friends. This slow withdrawal from society tends to lead them into states of confusion, alienation, apathy and frustration.
When an ineffective justice system allows criminals to go free, enthusiastic police officers feel betrayed and victimized by what they see as a miscarriage of justice. Police officers become distrustful of the justice system. Naturally they dread such an outcome believing that they could be victimized by the criminals whom they brought into custody.
Despite holding office as a result of the democratic process of holding elections, many African governments lack real acceptance by their people, and hence face a deficit in legitimacy. This results in a widespread public perception of police officers as tools of an authoritarian and even repressive state. Such public attitudes impact on the morale of the police officers, distracting them from pursuing their main objectives. This can also lead to mistrust of the public at large. Instead of developing an attitude of pride in their role as public protectors, police officers lose their self-esteem.
The public expects a 24 hour police service every day and night, year in and year out. The police in Africa, however, are poorly paid. The law enforcement profession is not highly regarded, even in comparison to service in the armed forces, and therefore does not attract the most promising candidates. Furthermore, working conditions leave a great deal to be desired. Rarely considered as a priority by African governments, police budgets are not adequate and facilities are in many cases in very poor condition, and have been for decades. To expect the police to be up to the task under such circumstances is like expecting a miracle. Governments need to invest in the police if they want to see results.
As if all this were not enough, African police services are often badly administered. Occupational stagnation, high levels of nepotism, and the prevalence of corruption are exacerbating the problems faced by the police in many parts of Africa.
Given these circumstances, it is difficult to imagine that what peace and stability that does exist in today`s Africa is a direct result of effective policing. Most societies are simply policing themselves and responding to crime as communities, in some cases giving summary justice on the spot. This is not the direction things should go in modernizing African societies. The growth of cynicism in the police forces is not an encouraging sign. Cynicism robs the profession of the very value needed to accomplish its goal. Each time it creates a negative contact with a citizen or impinges on professionalism and productivity among the ranks, cynicism impacts on police officers in Africa.
What is to be done?
Many of the problems faced by the police forces in African countries reflect a general malaise in the societies of those countries. It is not just the police that are dysfunctional. Institutions across the country are not working properly. Only wide-ranging and penetrating reform in governance and state administration can hope to have a sustainable impact on the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies on the continent. Many hope that the winds of change now blowing across Africa will also transform the way in which African governments interact with their people. If this happens, then that transformation will also positively influence African police services.
But this is not to say that Africans should wait until the big reforms come our way. Forward thinking leaders should surround themselves with change agents and embark on a sustainable initiative to transform the police. Nothing less than a reorientation leading to behavioral change is required. Such a campaign, if successful, would result in a force whose members show meaningful commitment to the ideals of honesty, fairness, justice, courage, integrity, loyalty, and compassion. This must be supported with better recruitment, continuous training, mentoring and peer counseling, positive recognition, empowerment, and community policing to turn the situation around. Civic society groups and professional associations should also play a role in pressing countries to move in the direction of building police forces worthy of the name.
Policing in Africa has many challenges which can lead police officers to be skeptical or even cynical about their effectiveness and role. There are a number of factors that contribute to this.
Depressing socio-economic conditions and growing criminality in urban areas demoralize police officers. Many of the situations they experience cause them to lose faith in others and, as a result, develop an “us versus them” outlook. As a consequence, police officers socialize with fewer and fewer people outside law enforcement circles, and in some cases even gradually withdraw from their families and friends. This slow withdrawal from society tends to lead them into states of confusion, alienation, apathy and frustration.
When an ineffective justice system allows criminals to go free, enthusiastic police officers feel betrayed and victimized by what they see as a miscarriage of justice. Police officers become distrustful of the justice system. Naturally they dread such an outcome believing that they could be victimized by the criminals whom they brought into custody.
Despite holding office as a result of the democratic process of holding elections, many African governments lack real acceptance by their people, and hence face a deficit in legitimacy. This results in a widespread public perception of police officers as tools of an authoritarian and even repressive state. Such public attitudes impact on the morale of the police officers, distracting them from pursuing their main objectives. This can also lead to mistrust of the public at large. Instead of developing an attitude of pride in their role as public protectors, police officers lose their self-esteem.
The public expects a 24 hour police service every day and night, year in and year out. The police in Africa, however, are poorly paid. The law enforcement profession is not highly regarded, even in comparison to service in the armed forces, and therefore does not attract the most promising candidates. Furthermore, working conditions leave a great deal to be desired. Rarely considered as a priority by African governments, police budgets are not adequate and facilities are in many cases in very poor condition, and have been for decades. To expect the police to be up to the task under such circumstances is like expecting a miracle. Governments need to invest in the police if they want to see results.
As if all this were not enough, African police services are often badly administered. Occupational stagnation, high levels of nepotism, and the prevalence of corruption are exacerbating the problems faced by the police in many parts of Africa.
Given these circumstances, it is difficult to imagine that what peace and stability that does exist in today`s Africa is a direct result of effective policing. Most societies are simply policing themselves and responding to crime as communities, in some cases giving summary justice on the spot. This is not the direction things should go in modernizing African societies. The growth of cynicism in the police forces is not an encouraging sign. Cynicism robs the profession of the very value needed to accomplish its goal. Each time it creates a negative contact with a citizen or impinges on professionalism and productivity among the ranks, cynicism impacts on police officers in Africa.
What is to be done?
Many of the problems faced by the police forces in African countries reflect a general malaise in the societies of those countries. It is not just the police that are dysfunctional. Institutions across the country are not working properly. Only wide-ranging and penetrating reform in governance and state administration can hope to have a sustainable impact on the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies on the continent. Many hope that the winds of change now blowing across Africa will also transform the way in which African governments interact with their people. If this happens, then that transformation will also positively influence African police services.
But this is not to say that Africans should wait until the big reforms come our way. Forward thinking leaders should surround themselves with change agents and embark on a sustainable initiative to transform the police. Nothing less than a reorientation leading to behavioral change is required. Such a campaign, if successful, would result in a force whose members show meaningful commitment to the ideals of honesty, fairness, justice, courage, integrity, loyalty, and compassion. This must be supported with better recruitment, continuous training, mentoring and peer counseling, positive recognition, empowerment, and community policing to turn the situation around. Civic society groups and professional associations should also play a role in pressing countries to move in the direction of building police forces worthy of the name.
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