Feeling of Safety among Residents in Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.611.7384Keywords:
Key words: Fear of crime; Feeling of Safety; Neighbourhood disorder; Lagos; Nigeria.Abstract
Abstract
This study examines the social factors that underpin the feeling of safety among residents in metropolitan Lagos. The paper is anchored on the instrumental and expressive theories of fear of crime and feeling of safety. It utilized quantitative data that were generated from 1,107 community members aged 18 who were drawn from four Local Government Areas of Lagos state. The study found a strong positive association between sex, employment, ethnicity, income; perceived neighbourhood crime level, experience of victimization, neighbourhood disorderliness and feeling of safety.It was recommended that relevant agencies of government-the police especially, must strive harder to improve citizens’ feeling of safety, because of its profound implications for the flourishing of democracy, economic development, social capital, associational life and the quality of life.
References
Reference List
Alemika, E.E.O, Igbo, E. &Nnorom, C. (2006) Criminal victimization, safety and policing in Nigeria: Lagos, CLEEN Foundation, Monograph Study n°3, 63p.
Baba, Y. and Mark A. D. (1989) Neighbourhood environmental satisfaction, victimization and social participation as determinants of perceived neighbourhood safety.Environment and Behaviour, 21, 763-780.
Bannister, J. (1993) Locating fear: Environmental and ontological security, In: H.Jones (Ed.), Crime and the Urban Environment. pp. 69-84. Aldershot: Avebury
Bennett, T. (1991) The Effectiveness of a Police initiated fear reducing strategy. British Journal of Criminology, 31, 1-14.
Biderman, A. D., Johnson, L. A., McIntyre, J., and Weir, A. W. (1967) Report on a pilot study in the District of Columbia on victimization and attitudes toward law enforcement. President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, Field Surveys I. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
Borooah, V.K, and Carcach, C.A (1997) Crime and fear: Evidence from Australia. The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 37, Issue 4, 1 October 1997, Pages 635–657
Burgess, J. (1994a). The Politics of trust: Reducing fear in urban parks, Working Paper No. 8, Comedia/Demos Study, The Future of Parks and Open Spaces'
In Ceccato, V. (Ed.), (2012) The urban fabric of crime and fear. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer.
Cordner G (2010) Reducing fear of crime: Strategies for Police. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice.
Cleen Foundation, (2013) Public presentation of findings of the National Crime victimization survey.Retrieved on January 18th from gallery.mailchimp.com/…/files/Text_Report_of_2013_NCVS_Finding s.pdf (Bennett, 1990).
Chinchilla M., Laura. (2002) Estabilidad social y seguridadciudadana en Centroamérica. In:
SeguridadCiudadana: ¿Espejismo o realidad? pp. 167-187.
Conklin, J.E. (1975) The Impact of Crime. New York: Macmillan.
Cruz, José Miguel. (2008). Violence and insecurity as challenges for democratic political culture in Latin America, Vanderbilt University. Availableonline:http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ lapop/ publications.php.
Doyle, M. ,Frogner, L. , Andershed, H. and Andershed, A. (2016) Feelings of safety in the presence of the police, security guards and police volunteers. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 22 (1), 19-40.
Farrall, S., Jackson, J. and Gray, E.( 2009) Social order and the fear of crime in contemporary times. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Clarendon Studies in Criminology.
Ferraro, K. F. (1995) Fear of crime: Interpreting victimization risk. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Garofalo, J. (1981) The Fear of crime: Causes and consequences, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 839 Volume 72 Issue 2 Summer
Grabosky P. (1995) Fear of crime and fear reduction strategies.Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and Issues in Criminal Justice No 44.
Hale, C. (1996), “Fear of Crime: A Review of the Literature”, International Review of Victimology, 4: 79-150.Jackson, J. (2004), ‘Experience and Expression: Social and Cultural Significance in the Fear of Crime’, British Journal of Criminology, 44/6: 946-966.Ferraro (1995:15
Hassinger.J. (1985) Fear of crime in public environments. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research.2. 289-300.
Jackson, J. (2004) Experience and expression: Social and cultural significance in the fear of crime.’ British Journal of Criminology, 44, 6, 946-966.
Jackson, J. and Sunshine, J. (2007) Public Confidence in Policing: A neo-Durkheimian Perspective, British Journal of Criminology, 47/2: 214-233. (Tyler and Boeckmann 1997
Jackson, J. and Bradford, B. (2008), Crime, Policing and the Social Order: On the Expressive Nature of Public Confidence in Policing, London School of Economics: Working Paper.
Jackson J., Bradford B,. Hohl K., Farrall S. (2009) Does the fear of crime erode public confidence in policing? Policing: a journal of policy and practice, 3 (1). pp. 100-111. ISSN 1752-
Jackson, J.and Stafford, M. (2009) Public health and fear of crime: A prospective cohort study. The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 49, Issue 6, 1 November 2009, Pages 832–847,
Malone, Mary Fran. (2010) The verdict is in: The impact of crime on public trust in Central
American Justice Systems. Journal of Politics in Latin America, 2 (3): 99-128.
Maxfield, M.G. (1984) Fear of Crime in England and Wales. London: HMSO
Muncie, J. & Wilson, D. (2004) Student Handbook of Criminal Justice and Criminology. London: Cavendish Publishing Limited.
Odinkalu, C. A. (2005). When did the police become (y)our friend?: Changing roles of civil society in promoting safety and security in Nigeria Crime and policing in Nigeria: challenges and options in Alemika E.E.O and Chukwuma I.C. Eds. Lagos: CLEEN Foundation. Chapter 1: 35- 48
Preisler, J. (2013) Being safe vs. feeling safe. Fostering Perspectives.Vol. 17, No. 2 • May 2013
Reisig, M. D. and Parks, R. (2000) Experience, quality of life, and neighborhood context: A hierarchical analysis of satisfaction with the Police, Justice Quarterly, 17: 607-629.
Silverman, E. B., and Della-Guistina, J. A. (2001) Urban policing and fear of crime. Urban Studies, 38(5), 941–957.
Skogan, W. (1986) Fear of crime and neighborhood change. Crime and Justice, 8, 203-229.
Sprott, J. B. and Doob, A. N. (2008) The Effect of urban neighborhood disorder on evaluations of the Police and Courts, Crime & Delinquency. Online First, published on February 26, 2008 as doi:10.1177/0011128707306689.
Shepherdson, P. (2014) Perceptions of safety and fear of crime research report. Auburn City Council in partnership with Bankstown, Canterbury and Hurstville Councils.
The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) United States Bureau of Diplomatic Security (2015). 2015 Nigeria Crime and Safety Report. (https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=17577)
Tyler TR and Boeckmann R.J (1997) Three strikes and you are out, but why? The psychology of
public support for punishing rule breakers. Law and Society Review 31: 237–265.
Veer, E. van de; Lange, M.A. de; Haar, E. van der; Karremans, J.C. (2012) Feelings of Safety: Ironic Consequences of Police Patrolling. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 42 (2012)12. - ISSN 0021-9029 - p. 3114 - 3125.
Alemika, E.E.O, Igbo, E. &Nnorom, C. (2006) Criminal victimization, safety and policing in Nigeria: Lagos, CLEEN Foundation, Monograph Study n°3, 63p.
Baba, Y. and Mark A. D. (1989) Neighbourhood environmental satisfaction, victimization and social participation as determinants of perceived neighbourhood safety.Environment and Behaviour, 21, 763-780.
Bannister, J. (1993) Locating fear: Environmental and ontological security, In: H.Jones (Ed.), Crime and the Urban Environment. pp. 69-84. Aldershot: Avebury
Bennett, T. (1991) The Effectiveness of a Police initiated fear reducing strategy. British Journal of Criminology, 31, 1-14.
Biderman, A. D., Johnson, L. A., McIntyre, J., and Weir, A. W. (1967) Report on a pilot study in the District of Columbia on victimization and attitudes toward law enforcement. President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice, Field Surveys I. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
Borooah, V.K, and Carcach, C.A (1997) Crime and fear: Evidence from Australia. The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 37, Issue 4, 1 October 1997, Pages 635–657
Burgess, J. (1994a). The Politics of trust: Reducing fear in urban parks, Working Paper No. 8, Comedia/Demos Study, The Future of Parks and Open Spaces'
In Ceccato, V. (Ed.), (2012) The urban fabric of crime and fear. Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Springer.
Cordner G (2010) Reducing fear of crime: Strategies for Police. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice.
Cleen Foundation, (2013) Public presentation of findings of the National Crime victimization survey.Retrieved on January 18th from gallery.mailchimp.com/…/files/Text_Report_of_2013_NCVS_Finding s.pdf (Bennett, 1990).
Chinchilla M., Laura. (2002) Estabilidad social y seguridadciudadana en Centroamérica. In:
SeguridadCiudadana: ¿Espejismo o realidad? pp. 167-187.
Conklin, J.E. (1975) The Impact of Crime. New York: Macmillan.
Cruz, José Miguel. (2008). Violence and insecurity as challenges for democratic political culture in Latin America, Vanderbilt University. Availableonline:http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ lapop/ publications.php.
Doyle, M. ,Frogner, L. , Andershed, H. and Andershed, A. (2016) Feelings of safety in the presence of the police, security guards and police volunteers. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 22 (1), 19-40.
Farrall, S., Jackson, J. and Gray, E.( 2009) Social order and the fear of crime in contemporary times. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Clarendon Studies in Criminology.
Ferraro, K. F. (1995) Fear of crime: Interpreting victimization risk. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Garofalo, J. (1981) The Fear of crime: Causes and consequences, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 839 Volume 72 Issue 2 Summer
Grabosky P. (1995) Fear of crime and fear reduction strategies.Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and Issues in Criminal Justice No 44.
Hale, C. (1996), “Fear of Crime: A Review of the Literature”, International Review of Victimology, 4: 79-150.Jackson, J. (2004), ‘Experience and Expression: Social and Cultural Significance in the Fear of Crime’, British Journal of Criminology, 44/6: 946-966.Ferraro (1995:15
Hassinger.J. (1985) Fear of crime in public environments. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research.2. 289-300.
Jackson, J. (2004) Experience and expression: Social and cultural significance in the fear of crime.’ British Journal of Criminology, 44, 6, 946-966.
Jackson, J. and Sunshine, J. (2007) Public Confidence in Policing: A neo-Durkheimian Perspective, British Journal of Criminology, 47/2: 214-233. (Tyler and Boeckmann 1997
Jackson, J. and Bradford, B. (2008), Crime, Policing and the Social Order: On the Expressive Nature of Public Confidence in Policing, London School of Economics: Working Paper.
Jackson J., Bradford B,. Hohl K., Farrall S. (2009) Does the fear of crime erode public confidence in policing? Policing: a journal of policy and practice, 3 (1). pp. 100-111. ISSN 1752-
Jackson, J.and Stafford, M. (2009) Public health and fear of crime: A prospective cohort study. The British Journal of Criminology, Volume 49, Issue 6, 1 November 2009, Pages 832–847,
Malone, Mary Fran. (2010) The verdict is in: The impact of crime on public trust in Central
American Justice Systems. Journal of Politics in Latin America, 2 (3): 99-128.
Maxfield, M.G. (1984) Fear of Crime in England and Wales. London: HMSO
Muncie, J. & Wilson, D. (2004) Student Handbook of Criminal Justice and Criminology. London: Cavendish Publishing Limited.
Odinkalu, C. A. (2005). When did the police become (y)our friend?: Changing roles of civil society in promoting safety and security in Nigeria Crime and policing in Nigeria: challenges and options in Alemika E.E.O and Chukwuma I.C. Eds. Lagos: CLEEN Foundation. Chapter 1: 35- 48
Preisler, J. (2013) Being safe vs. feeling safe. Fostering Perspectives.Vol. 17, No. 2 • May 2013
Reisig, M. D. and Parks, R. (2000) Experience, quality of life, and neighborhood context: A hierarchical analysis of satisfaction with the Police, Justice Quarterly, 17: 607-629.
Silverman, E. B., and Della-Guistina, J. A. (2001) Urban policing and fear of crime. Urban Studies, 38(5), 941–957.
Skogan, W. (1986) Fear of crime and neighborhood change. Crime and Justice, 8, 203-229.
Sprott, J. B. and Doob, A. N. (2008) The Effect of urban neighborhood disorder on evaluations of the Police and Courts, Crime & Delinquency. Online First, published on February 26, 2008 as doi:10.1177/0011128707306689.
Shepherdson, P. (2014) Perceptions of safety and fear of crime research report. Auburn City Council in partnership with Bankstown, Canterbury and Hurstville Councils.
The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) United States Bureau of Diplomatic Security (2015). 2015 Nigeria Crime and Safety Report. (https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=17577)
Tyler TR and Boeckmann R.J (1997) Three strikes and you are out, but why? The psychology of
public support for punishing rule breakers. Law and Society Review 31: 237–265.
Veer, E. van de; Lange, M.A. de; Haar, E. van der; Karremans, J.C. (2012) Feelings of Safety: Ironic Consequences of Police Patrolling. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 42 (2012)12. - ISSN 0021-9029 - p. 3114 - 3125.
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Published
2019-12-03
How to Cite
ADEJOH, P. (2019). Feeling of Safety among Residents in Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 6(11), 288–301. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.611.7384
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