Citizen and officer perceptions of community policing in Ghana: Policing of, by, and for the people, or just to the people? Dr. Angela West Crews Dr. Gordon A. Crews Washburn University American Society of Criminology November 15, 2007 Atlanta, Georgia

OVERVIEW & INTRODUCTION American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews2

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 American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 3

METHODS American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews4

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 American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 5

ANALYSIS & RESULTS American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews6

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 American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 7

Officer Surveys I The Community –5 sections related to officer perceptions about crime & policing in their communities IIThe Ghana Police Service –10 sections related to officer perceptions of the Ghana Police Service IIIOfficer Comments –4 statements assessed qualitatively American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 8

Analysis Qualitative/Content Analysis of Comments –4 open-ended statements Descriptive Analysis (SPSS) –Officer Perceptions of Their Communities –Officer Perceptions of the GPS American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 9

Officer Surveys Officer Perceptions of Their Communities American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews10

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 11

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 12

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 13

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 Crews14

Officer Surveys Officer Perceptions of the Ghana Police Service American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews15

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 16

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 17

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 18

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 American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 19

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 American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 20

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 21

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 American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 22

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 23

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%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 24

Discussion & Conclusions Facilitators of & Barriers to Community Policing Initiatives in Ghana American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews25

American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 26 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)

INTERNAL BARRIERS

American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 28 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.

EXTERNAL BARRIERS

Ghanaian institution perceived as most affected by corruption The Ghana Police Service (76.8%) American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews30 EXTERNAL BARRIERS

Perception of Police by Citizens AND Perception of Citizens by Police –Citizens: we have to PAY for service –Police: they will NOT COME to us for service –Citizens: we see BRIBERY everyday –Police: we see VIGILANTE JUSTICE everyday “What will happen as police have MORE and MORE contact with citizens?” American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 31

FACILITATORS American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews32

American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 33 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)

American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 34 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”

Any Questions? American Society of Criminology, November 2007, Angela and Gordon Crews 35

Contact Information for Author Gordon A. Crews, Ph.D. Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology Marshall University Huntington, West Virginia