Implimentation of community policing forum policy (CPFP) in Mpumalanga: A case of Pienaar cluster police forum.
Maseko, Gugu Gift
Maseko, Gugu Gift
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
This study involves an assessment of the implementation of community policing forums in Mpumalanga based on a case study of the Pienaar Cluster Police Forum. The study was conducted with the overall objective of assessing challenges that affect community policing. The research objectives for this study were addressed through five research questions that established the following: the nature of relationships between communities and the police in the Pienaar Cluster; the extent to which community engagement affects implementation of policy within the cluster; the challenges in the implementation of policy; the challenges in the monitoring and evaluation of community policing; and recommendations to be made to improve the implementation of community policing in the Pienaar Cluster. A descriptive research approach was used for the study, with two groups of respondents targeted for the primary research. Mixed research methodologies were used, employing both qualitative and quantitative techniques to gather and analyse data. The first group used for the primary research comprised members of the Community Policing Forum, and the research instrument used with these was a semi-structured interview schedule. The second group used comprised members of the community from the Pienaar Cluster, and the research instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire. All the data collected was analysed and synthesised to address the research objectives of the study. The study reached several conclusions based on findings done during primary research. One of the key findings is that there are relationship challenges between the CPF members, the police, and the community. These relationship challenges have affected the effective implementation of community policing since there is a lack of trust in the police and the CPF by community members. Lack of trust by the community implies that community members do not participate as expected in community policing issues organised by the CPF. Implementation of community policing is also affected by the poor engagement and non-attendance of community members, and this has been traced to poor communication. The CPF faces challenges in implementing community policing because of resource challenges, among other matters. Several recommendations were made, including the need to improve relationships between the police, CPF, and community. Policy changes were also recommended to deal with concerns by CPF members about a lack of compensation. Resource availability requires government and other private business partners in the Pienaar Cluster to work together. A multi-faceted approach is needed among the departments in the justice cluster to deal with the lack of awareness of community policing matters among community members. Communication between the community and police, as well as the CPF, needs to be consistent and effective enough to ensure community members are aware of the work being done by the CPF.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for degree of Master of Public Affairs (MPA) in the Faculty of Humanities in the Department of Public Management at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Date
2023-03-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tshwane University of Technology
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Community policing, Forums, Implementation, Relationships, Pienaar cluster, Mpumalanga