Knowledge and Attitude of Police Officers Regarding Community Policing Initiatives in District Kohat, Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores the knowledge and attitude of police officers regarding community policing initiatives implemented by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police through the Police Reforms Act of 2017. Community Policing (CP) is a relatively new concept, emphasizing the proactive involvement of the general public in policing strategies to prevent crime and maintain peace in society. The Program was introduced with the aim of bridging the trust deficit between the police and citizens and fostering greater citizen engagement through community policing committees and councils at the grassroots level. However, significant evidence shows that these initiatives have yet to materialize as originally envisioned. This qualitative study employs a case study design, interviewing 24 police officers chosen from the 11 police stations through a purposive sampling technique at District Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.  The findings revealed that the police officers’ lack of knowledge and low understanding level of the community policing approach and their non-supportive attitude towards the community policing committees/ councils were mainly instrumental in inhibiting the effectiveness of the Community Policing program in the District Kohat.

Keywords: Police officers, community policing, knowledge, attitude, community