We Have no Faith in the Police An analysis of Media Audience Awareness, Attitude and Use of Security Numbers in Exposing Crimes in Enugu State


Keyword : Media audience .Security numbers .Awareness .Crime reporting


Author(s) : Izuchukwu Z. Ugwu, A. C. Ekwueme & Nnamdi George Nzekwe

Abstract :   

This work set out to uncover the media audience awareness, attitudes and use of the frequently advertised security numbers for exposing crimes in Enugu State. The research was guided by two theories: Technology Determinism theory and Partnership theory of crime prevention. The study employed survey method and determined a sample of 405 using cluster sampling technique. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The study found that: over 71% of the total respondents were aware of these security numbers for exposing crimes in the State but ironically, 86.4% of these respondents don’t have these numbers saved in their phones and have never reported any crime to the police. Also, findings show that older respondents with higher socioeconomic status report crimes more than younger respondents, low income earners, and rural dwellers who mostly relied on the services of the community’s vigilante groups. Radio, TV, and friends ranked high in the respondent’s key sources of information about these security numbers. The research further showed that the key factors that determined the respondent’s attitude to crime reporting include: fear of retaliation; lack of faith in police force; concern about one’s identity, etc. From these findings, the researchers recommended that the security forces should strive and rebuild their public image in order to restore public faith in the agency which will enhance crime reporting. Again, these security numbers should be displayed in billboards at strategic public positions where members of the public can easily see and save them in their mobile phones.

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