Citation :

Derese Alehegn, 2025. "Improving Public Safety Through Community Policing: Analyzing Police-Community Partnerships " ESP International Journal of Science, Humanities & Management Studies(ESP-IJSHMS)  Volume 3, Issue 1: 1-9.

Abstract :

Community policing is a proactive approach to law enforcement that fosters collaboration between police and citizens to enhance public safety. In Addis Ababa, rapid urbanization has led to complex social and security challenges, making community policing a potentially transformative strategy. Despite its relevance, the implementation and effectiveness of community policing in Ethiopia remain underexplored. This study investigates how police-community partnerships can enhance public safety through community participation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing surveys and interview with residents, police officers, and community leaders. The study applied Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate key constructs of community policing and participation. Results from the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test (0.778) and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (p < 0.001) confirmed the adequacy of the dataset for factor analysis. Findings suggest that community participation significantly influences policing effectiveness, particularly in crime prevention, trust-building, and localized problem-solving. The study highlights key variables such as police-community trust, citizen involvement in safety initiatives, and the role of community-led crime prevention measures. The scree plot analysis recommends retaining four to five key components, emphasizing the need for structured community engagement. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations seeking to enhance public safety in urban settings. By strengthening community-police partnerships, Addis Ababa can develop a more sustainable and participatory policing framework. Future research should further explore longitudinal impacts and policy implications of community policing in Ethiopia.

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Keywords :

Community policing, Police-community partnerships, Public safety, Crime prevention, urban security.