Exploring Citizens Perception of the Police Role and Function in a Post-Colonial Nation
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Overview
1.2. Statement of Problem
“A repressive force ready to harass people at every opportunity.”
1.3. Aim for the Study
- Does the present role and function of police officers in T&T satisfy the needs of citizens, for example, safety, security, problem solving, minimising the fear of crime, crime prevention and resolution?
- Are the role and function of police officers aligned to a “force or service”?
- What is citizens expectation of change towards the role and function of the police in T&T?
1.4. Justification for This Study
2. The Present Literature
2.1. Earlier Perceptions of the Role and Function of the Police
2.2. Service Oriented Policing Model
2.3. Colonial Policing Model
2.4. Trinidad and Tobago Policing Service
3. Methodology
3.1. Research Design
3.2. Research Population and Sample
3.3. Data Analysis Method
4. Findings
“These police officer in T&T only want to harass women for sex. If you have a husband or man, they try to come to your house when he not at home. But violent crime is out of control in T&T, and they cannot fix that. We have teenagers running around with guns and shooting innocent people and the police have no idea who they are. Most people do not want to speak with the police because they do not care and some of them even involved with the criminals. The women officer a bit better because they will listen and try to help but you do not see them often.”
“Some of these T&T people not easy, they don’t want to work hard and live an honest life. They always stealing, robbing, selling drugs, prostituting themselves and killing innocent people. When the police arrest them, they quick to saying the police wicked and not helping them.”
“I am from the old colonial day when Trinidad and Tobago were a British colony. The policemen back in those times was wicked and heartless. The used to beat people up for no reason and the women officers did not have a voice because the male officers were in control. Those officers did not care about helping people, they cared about themselves. These young police officers now have a bit more education but they just driving around in fancy cars and vans but not really helping people. People often have problems and not sure who to talk to or how to resolve it, but these police nowadays have no time for helping people or resolving problems, therefore crime is out of control in this small nation. These officers just want to make a quick arrest to look good and say they are working hard.”
“I never had a problem with the police. They are always friendly and professional in doing their job. If I had a problem and called them, I know they will help to resolve it.”
“In T&T we need a more professional police service, too much of these officers have that old mentality. Times has changed, people have changed, and the police need to change also. Long ago police did what they want, when they want, and no questions asked. But now they need to be accountable for their actions. They need better training, more advanced skills to help people, not apply force on people. I would personally say they need communication, problems solving and some social welfare training. Another big issue is the young generation now is into technology and with a smart phone they are doing everything, but most officers don’t know how to use a smartphone. So, these young criminals make officers look old fashion and outdated, the youths ahead of the police.”
“As far as I am concerned the police do a good job and have the right skills to do it. I don’t think they need any immediate change but as times and things change, they might need to keep updated. However, that’s not an emergency or something for immediate actions.”
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
6.1. Summary of Discussion
- Does the present role and function of police officers in T&T satisfy the needs of citizens for example, safety, security, problem solving, minimising the fear of crime, crime prevention and resolution?
- Are the role and function of police officers aligned to a “force or service”?
- What is citizens expectation of change towards the role and function of the police in T&T?
6.2. Theoretical Implications
6.3. Future Research
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Sexual Orientation | Quantity |
Male | 20 |
Female | 21 |
LGBT+ | 3 |
Other | 1 |
Race/Ethnicity | Quantity |
Afrotrinidadian | 13 |
Indotrinidadian | 13 |
White | 6 |
Mixed | 13 |
Other | 0 |
Age Group | Quantity |
18–30 | 16 |
31–50 | 16 |
50+ | 13 |
Income | Quantity |
Unemployed | 9 |
Employed (full-time) | 20 |
Self Employed | 9 |
Retired (pension) | 5 |
Student | 2 |
Marital Status | Quantity |
Single | 20 |
Married/In a Relationship | 20 |
Widowed | 10 |
Education | Quantity |
No Formal | 9 |
Primary | 13 |
Secondary | 13 |
Tertiary/University | 10 |
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Mathura, M. Exploring Citizens Perception of the Police Role and Function in a Post-Colonial Nation. Soc. Sci. 2022, 11, 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11100465
Mathura M. Exploring Citizens Perception of the Police Role and Function in a Post-Colonial Nation. Social Sciences. 2022; 11(10):465. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11100465
Chicago/Turabian StyleMathura, Michael. 2022. "Exploring Citizens Perception of the Police Role and Function in a Post-Colonial Nation" Social Sciences 11, no. 10: 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11100465