An assessment of Police effectiveness in crime management during pandemics: a case of COVID-19 in Central Police Station, Wakiso District

Abstract

Since January 2020, the world has been faced with a global Covid-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2) virus strain. This pandemic has greatly affected the security of society, economic development, people‘s daily lives, criminal distribution, and how law enforcement agencies operate (Chakraborty & Maity, p.728, 2020). Since its outbreak, the Covid-19 pandemic spread rapidly. By March 2021, just over a year after its official declaration by the WHO, over 124 million Covid-19 cases, and 2.74 million Covid-19-related deaths were reported worldwide (WHO, 2021). The study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of the police on crime management during the Covid-19 pandemic in Wakiso Central Police Station. The specific objectives were to examine the nature of crimes during the Covid-19 Pandemic, to find out the methods used by Police in crime management during the Covid-19 pandemic to identify the enabling and limiting factors of crime management during pandemics and to develop policies to influence managing crime during pandemics. The study adopted a qualitative research design and methodology. The sample size comprised 33 participants including 05 senior police officers and 10 junior officers, 05 local leaders, 01 area OC prison, 01 area magistrate, 01 area resident state attorney, and 10 people from the local population who will include 05 females, and 05 males. The study employed purposive sampling to select key respondents such as senior officers, local leaders, and judicial officials while snowball sampling was used to select complainants and suspects among the community members in Wakiso District. The study used a structured interview guide and focus group discussion guide to collect data from the respondents. The study findings revealed that the nature of crimes committed during the Covid-19 pandemic in Wakiso Central Police included: domestic violence, defilement, sexual abuse, robbery, breaking of the health guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) cyber-crimes and fraud and burglary, and theft. The study established the methods used by police in crime management during the Covid-19 pandemic which included motorized and foot patrolling, community policing, use of phone call services, arresting and prosecution of the suspects, use of informants, guidance and counseling and joint action through the district task force (DTF). The study found out the factors responsible for easing and limiting the management of crime during the Covid-19 pandemic and these included provisions of personal protective equipment (PPE) to officers, enforcing restrictions on transport and curfew, use of informants, provision of transport means, reliance on CCTV cameras installed in the district, critical logistical support, joint operations and use of mass and social media. The findings indicated that transport options which were meant to support police heightened operations due to Covid-19 were inadequate which limited the range of activities carried out and restricted police operational choices. The study suggested the use of policies such as emphasis on following guidelines by all, and emphasis on joint operations, but with very clear command, sensitization, and mobilization of the public. The study recommends that the Uganda Police Force management should recruit and train more experts especially, emergency handling experts, cyber forensics and other areas of expertise to avoid gambling with situations in times of emergences.