Research Paper
Year: 2022 | Month: March | Volume: 9 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 60-74
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20220308
Urban Security Challenges: A Review of Crime Prevention Strategies Adopted by Residents in Greater Port Harcourt City, Rivers State, Nigeria
Nwokaeze, Edmund Chinem1, Ikiriko, Tamunoikuronibo Dawaye2, Johnbull, Simeipiri Wenike3
1,2,3Urban and Regional Planning Department, Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt.
Corresponding Author: Nwokaeze, Edmund Chinem
ABSTRACT
The vulnerability to the insecurity of cities, and how best to address them, have been subject to considerable discussions. With the rising crime rate in cities in Nigeria, households have provided for their security, particularly with structures in the building, streets and neighbourhoods. Observation of streets and houses in Greater Port Harcourt City Area show high fences (some with the addition of razor wires), gates to streets manned by security personnel, use of CCTV, electrified gates and fences, burglary proofing of windows, doors and even roofs. This research reviews strategy adopted by residents in curbing crime across different neighbourhoods of Greater Port Harcourt City. The study utilizes a survey research methodology based on data obtained from four hundred and ninety–eight (498) respondents drawn from four neighbourhoods selected purposively (three from planned neighbourhoods in the inner city and one large neighbourhood in the peri-urban area). The study followed a multi-stage framework. Five streets in the inner city and fifteen streets in the peri-urban area were randomly selected in the study neighbourhoods. This was followed by the selection of twenty houses on each street using the systematic sampling method. In each house, one household head was randomly picked for questionnaire administration. The results revealed that the use of urban design elements to control crime between the inner-city neighbourhoods and the neighbourhoods in the urban periphery of the city differed significantly. The inner-city made greater use of natural surveillance to control crime whereas the peri-urban area utilized target hardening. State actors and non-state actors were used for crime control across the neighbourhoods; however, income status was a key determinant of preference. The high income was favourable to the formal instrument of state power, the police while the low income preferred the non-state actors, the local vigilante. This study recommends an integrated crime prevention strategy for the entire city; adequate funding of security by the Government, the provision of amenities and street furniture, the use of neighbourhood plans that promotes defensible space in emerging areas, the introduction of technology and community policing in crime prevention will achieve far greater long-term security for the Greater Port Harcourt metropolis.
Keywords: Urban security, Crime prevention, Neighbourhood, Greater Port Harcourt City.
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