GOOD POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP: AN ANTIDOTE TO CRIME CONTROL IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN SOCIETY
1Aver, T.T., 2Adoko, E.O. and 3Ogah, I.A.
1&2Department of Sociology, Kwararafa University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.
3Department of Mass Communication, Kwararafa University Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
E-mail: theophilusaver@yahoo.com, abari.ogah@yahoo.com
Abstract: The Nigerian police interact with all members of the public at different levels; individually, groups, organizations among others. The police represent the government official agents of crime control by setting in motion the criminal justice system. When they represent the interests of the public in which they serve; there is general harmony and gratitude from members of the public. But when they act in otherwise they received insults and condemnations from members of the public. This paper has made a useful contribution that will enable the Nigerian police to have a good relationship with members of public in order to fight crime in Nigeria. Structural functionalism was adopted as a theoretical perspective to guide the paper. It was positioned that without good police public relationship, the role of crime detection, prevention and apprehension of criminals cannot be achieved by the police in Nigeria. It was recommended that for effective policing in Nigeria the police should cooperate with members of public in order to illicit information about criminal hideouts in their localities; this will go a long way in reducing criminals in the society. The police should treat every citizens of the country according to the rule of law. All human beings are equal in the sight of the law. If a rich man/woman commits crime he/she should be treated like when a poor man/woman commits the same crime. The paper concluded that lack of communication between the police and the public is envisaged as the widespread lopsided relationship. Police depends on safe public relationship that is more trans‐parent as public engagement in police affairs is crucial in tackling the problem of crime in contemporary society.