Public Attitudes towards Reporting Crimes in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction

The rate at which crimes are committed in the country is alarming and virtually on daily basis different types of crimes such as armed robbery, house-breaking, murder, rape, forgery, stealing, armed banditry, etc. are reported at the various police stations in the rural and urban areas. In fact, it is a matter of routine that whenever a crime is committed, the first port of call is the police. In Nigeria, the police is the sole authority responsible for the prevention of lives and property and generally the enforcement of all laws and regulations emanating from the Federal, State as well as bye-laws made by the Local Government Councils.¹

While it is the primary duty of the citizens to report incident of crimes to the police for investigation. However, the duty to report crimes is influenced by a number of factors ranging from the public confidence in the competence of the police to investigate the case effectively and efficiently, the past personal or acquired experience with the police, the existence of alternative ways and means to deal with crime, the relationship between the victim and the offender or the “Privacy of the issue involved”.