Research Proposal on An Investigation on Reducing Crime Rates through Community Partnership - Case Study of Pretoria

An Investigation on Reducing Crime Rates through Community Partnership - Case Study of Pretoria

 

Introduction

            Taking a crime solving approach to addressing specific crime problems require a broad inquiry in the process. The role of the communities and neighborhoods should not be ignored (Schmerler et al, 2006). Research has shown that a relatively small number of locations and offenders are involved in a relatively large amount of crime (Schmerler et al, 2006). On a similar note, a small number of victims account for a relatively large amount of victimisation. As solving a crime not only involves the law enforcers, the offender and the victim, engaging the community means providing meaningful public service. Nonetheless, partnerships reduce the risks of overlooking the most pressing community concerns.  

            There is the need to connect with the communities they serve, to reach out to every member of those communities and to build relationships that keep people aware of what’s happening as well as what’s going to happen in their neighborhoods (Schmerler et al, 2006). As such, creating a partnership with the communities may bring light to very specific crime problems which give law enforcements officials the opportunity to prevent crime before it happens. Seen as a proactive approach, communities would be able to determine the root causes of crimes and then seek to prevent crimes from happening again (Schmerler et al, 2006).

            However, the role of the communities in Pretoria are in reducing crime rate is an unexplored field. Pretoria, as one of the three capital cities, is located in the Northern part of Gauteng Province in South Africa. Pretoria unfortunately suffers from a high crime rate and it is perceived to be a real problem as crimes are becoming a commonplace. This study will investigate how partnerships with the community would be beneficial not just to the law enforcement but also to the neighborhoods as well. Law enforcement in focus is the Sunnyside Police Station.  

 

Aim and Objectives

            The main aim of the study is to investigate the different roles that the local communities in Pretoria could partake in reducing the crime rate. In lieu with this, the following specific objectives will be addressed:

• To analyse in what specific ways the communities can reduce the crime rate
• To evaluate to what extent the communities can be an ally to the police officers

 

Questions

1)    What are the challenges and problems that the Sunnyside police officers are experiencing when solving crime problems in Pretoria area?

2)    What are the strategies that the Sunnyside police officers are implementing in solving crime problems in Pretoria area?

3)    How do the communities fit in the crime problem-solving strategies that the Sunnyside police officers are implementing?

4)    How do the Sunnyside police officers perceive the role of the communities in reducing crime rate?

5)    How do the people themselves perceive their role in reducing crime rate in their respective communities?  

 

Methodology

            According to Saunders et al (2003), research perspectives usually consist of three parts, the perspective of the positivist, interpretivist and the realist approaches. In my research I will be using the Interpretivist approach, (in between the continuum), as my research is exploratory, wherein, the study will be exploring the role of neighborhood in reducing the crime rate in a specific area such that of Pretoria. In what ways and to what extent the people within the Pretoria area could contribute to reducing crime rate will be also explored. Thereby, using an Inductive approach to form a theory as to how community partnership will aid in the operation of the Sunnyside Police Station.

            The research approach is exploratory as it intends to explore how crime rate could be possibly reduced by means of community partnership. This approach is a preferred mean of finding out “what is happening to seek new insights” or “to ask questions or to assess phenomena in a new light” (Saunders et al, 2003). This study will use the principal ways of conducting exploratory research, which include: literature search; talking to experts about the subject; and conducting survey.

            The research will utilise both primary and secondary research. In primary research, the study will survey members of the community. A structured questionnaire will be developed and it will be used as the survey tool for the study. It is planned that the questionnaire will have a 5 point Likert Scale, as well as ranking, probing and hypothetical questions. Further, inputs will be taken from the representatives of the Sunnyside Police Station.

            A secondary research will also be conducted in the study. Sources in secondary research will include previous research reports, newspaper, magazine and journal content. Existing findings on journals and existing knowledge on books will be used as secondary research. The interpretation will be conducted which can account as qualitative in nature.

 

References

Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2003). Research Methods for Business Students, 3^rd Ed. London: Prentice Hall Financial Times.

Schmerler, K., Perkins, M., Phillips, S., Rinehart, T. & Townsend, M. (2006). A Guide to Reducing Crime and Disorder through Problem-Solving Partnerships. Community Oriented Policing Services.

 

 

Timeframe

TASK

Weeks

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

Read preliminary literature

Finalize objectives

Devise preliminary literature review

Devise research approach

Update literature read

Review secondary data

Organize survey

Develop survey questions

Conduct survey

Analyse secondary and primary data

Evaluate data

Draft findings chapter

Complete remaining chapters

Submit to tutor and await feedback

Revise draft and format for submission

Print, bind and submit