ABSTRACT
The project work is aimed at critically
examining “The roles of police public relations as a mechanism for improving
police community relation in Dunukofia local Government Area”. It attempts at
critically evaluating the roles the police plays to improve their relationship
with the publics at large. It equally aims at ascertaining the mutual
relationship between police and the people of Dunukofia Local government Area.
Moreover, survey method is used in the design of the study while the primary
source of data collection is the self administered questionnaire. Thus, the
source of this study was taken from the target population, which consist of six
towns existing in Dunukofia Local Government Area which includes Ukpo, Nawgu,
Ifitedunu, Umunachi, Ukwulu, Umudioka both male and female. Systematic Random
sampling technique was employed and a total of 180 respondents were
administered. The responses were tabled in a frequency and later converted into
sampling percentage as the method of data analysis. Hence, the findings showed
that police plays an important role in trying to create a good community police
relation with the people. It equally adopted the social responsibility theory
which focuses on maintaining a two-way communication in order to continuously
ensure understanding or resolve conflicts of interests between individuals,
institutions, organizations and their publics, the police makes sure there is
safety in the society and equally makes sure laws and orders are being
maintained and obeyed so well in the society. It is then recommended that the
police force of Dunukofia Local government Area must address itself to issues
and problems the community considers as crucial and should pay serious
attention the community’s yearnings and should equally, at every stage inform
the community of the relation behind such benevolence and the community on the
other hand, should reciprocate, using appreciative words towards the police
kind gestures. The researcher hoped the suggestion of conducting a further
study on the topic could be done if possible.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
1.2.
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
1.3.
OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
1.4.
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
1.5.
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
1.6.
SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
1.7.
DEFINITION
OF TERMS
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. MISCONCEPTION ABOUT PUBLIC RELATIONS
2.2. USES OF PUBLIC RELATION
2.3. ABUSES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
2.4. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.5. RELATED STUDIES
2.6. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1. RESEARCH DESIGN
3.2. AREA OF STUDY
3.3. POPULATION OF STUDY
3.4. SAMPLE AND SAMPLING PROCEDURE
3.5. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
3.6. METHOD OF ANALYSING DATA
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1. PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF TABLE
4.2. QUESTIONNAIRES COMPOSED FOR THE MEMBERS OF POLICE
FORCE.
4.3. INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.4. FINDINGS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
5.2. CONCLUSION
5.3. RECOMMENDATION
5.4. SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDY
REFERENCES
APPENDIX A
QUESTIONNAIRE
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
It is most often agreed and rightly
that community relations is an indispensable tool of every worthwhile
organization.
Even more to bureaucratic and segmented
organizations, public relations is vital to the overall success of any
establishment within the community in which it serves and their programme can
introduce a friendly atmosphere in a hitherto antagonist environment to such an
extent that the organization and the community can work together as partners in
progress.
Any
establishment that is worthy of its name owes the community in which it
operates and serves a responsibility and the community too owes the
organization, if the two are to exist in a conducive atmosphere to solve their
neutral problems and evolve a better community.
Good
public Relations can serve an organization from liquidations in terms of crisis
and poor public relations may result in the death of a hitherto healthy
organization. Full information of police public relations in Dunikofia and its
relations with the community can induce great regard organization firstly for
its good work to the community and then for its success in business.
Once
this favourable impression is not created in the minds of the people of the
communities.
The
reputation of the organization is bound to sour within that community. The
measure of successful policy public relations will be indicated by the regard
which people have for an organization i.e regard based on their knowledge and
understanding because an organization has been able to create a favourable
image of itself within the community it serve.
2.2.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Public
relation practices is a phenomenon which is meant to use mutual understanding
towards individuals ot organization and an organization like the police force
to operate successfully in any community with its attendant, socio-cultural,
economic, political and religious problems a necessity for such police organization
and who should own polices.
On
the other hand, a public relation is a deliberately planned and sustained
effort which is geared towards maintaining mutual co-operation between
organization and its policies. Every organization operates on a particular area,
which it owes some social responmsibility. If the organization comes out of its
duties effectively the community it operates on, would resituate and when this
happens, there is likely to be mutual understanding in them otherwise,
hostility will flame up.
2.3.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To investigate the extent the public
relations has improved the police community relations.
2. To determine how the services of police
are understood and appreciated by the community it is being purported to serve.
3. To examine if the activities of the
police accords with the provisions of the law establishing it.
4. To access the categories of officers
qualified for the action.
2.4.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. To what extent do public relation
improve the police community relations?
2. How far are the services of the police
understood and appreciated by the community it is purported to serve?
3. Are the activities of the police
agreeable, with the provision of the law establishing it?
4. What categories of officers is most
guilty for this action?
2.5.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This
study will aid to bridge the gap between contradictory position and practice of
public relations.
Also,
the public is always suspicious about police for their unbecoming service. It
will help to create mutual understanding and relationship between the police
and the public they offer service to.
In
academic field, it will aid for further study or research. It will equally help
the governments to set a better policy for good public and police friendship
for better security.
Lastly,
this research work will enable public relations practioner’s carry out their
functions with a good insight.
2.6.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study is the six (6)
towns in Dunukofia. These ones under studies includes: Ifitedum, Nawgu, Ukwulu,
Umunachi, Umudioka and Ukpo which is their headquarter. Also, it is the
activities of the community police relations committee in these towns that are
examined.
2.7. DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. PUBLIC RELATIONS: Is the deliberate planned and sustained
effort to establish and maintain a mutual understanding between an organization
and its publics.
2. POLICE: Is anyone or an official organization whose job is to make
people, obey the laws and orders, prevent and equally solve crimes.
3. POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS: According to Alozie practice, “Is an
attempt to achieve the goal of a favourable public image, sometimes, both may
not be emphasized rather truth is manipulated in order to gain an acceptable
public image”.