Public Eye

 Through the lens

Introduction

Information on the nature of crime, its causes, and the impact it has on the society, is essential for strategising and planning to prevent growing incidents of crime. An important component of this is the way public perceive and view its police. This relationship is fundamental in maintaining law and order in any society.

In Tanzania, crime has become a prominent national issue especially for the urban poor. The issues of private and public security have become the most identifiable criteria negatively impacting on quality of life. Lack of job opportunities, social exclusion, institutional dynamics and the physical environment provide manifold causes for crime in low-income areas.

The country is also still faced with large numbers of refugees who particularly during the 1990s, came to the country in significant numbers. Most foreign migrants arrive with few resources. After initially being hosted either by family or tribal communities, they move into informal settlements. A large proportion of these settlements are overcrowded, lacking even the most rudimentary services. To compound matters, local authorities often consider informal settlements illegal, hence residents are ineligible for tenure rights. Regulations and licensing rules often restrict their activities and urban planning takes little account of their needs. Not surprisingly, the relationship between local government, police authorities and the urban poor is antagonistic.

Perceptions regarding crime in Tanzania

People living in the urban areas are more concerned about crime and safety than those surveyed in the rural areas. Reflecting this trend, people in Dar es Salaam and Arusha were more worried about crime and safety than those in Mtwara. More specifically, 40% of Tanzanians surveyed thought crime had increased in the past three years, with this view being far more common in Arusha and Dar es Sallam than in Mtwara. Similarly, around half the respondents living in the urban neighbourhoods thought crime had increased compared to only 28% in rural areas.

Perceptions about which crimes are most prevalent varied considerably between the three areas: in Arusha burglary was believed to be most common, while in Mwtara it was crop theft, and in Dar es Salaam robbery figured at the top of the list. Fear of crime was highest in Arusha. At night, 60% in Arusha felt very unsafe walking alone, compared to 40% in Dar es Salaam and only 16% in Mtwara. Respondents in all the three places polled, identified unemployment as the key reason for crime followed by lack of alternative means of survival such as subsistence agriculture for the rise in crime.

The three key areas where the public opinioned on the police:

Access to the police - the issue of public access to the agencies of criminal justice is key to any discussion about the effectiveness of these institutions.

Views of police performance - opinion of the police are often influenced by how visible their members are to the public.

Trust in the police - building a relationship of trust betwwen the public and the police

Conclusion

• The more urbanised the settlement, the more likely it is that people come into contact with uniformed police officers on a regular basis. More than one third of those in rural areas said that they had never seen a uniformed police officer in their area.
• Most people thought the police were performing well, particularly those living in Mtwara. The main reason for this they thought was the commitment shown by the police. Those who disagreed indicated corruption to be the sole reason for police inactivity.
• Levels of trust in the police were high, with most respondents saying they would instruct their children to seek help from the police in times of need.
• When asked what government should do to improve safety, the majority cited, improving law enforcement and criminal justice.