CO-PRODUCTION AND PUBLIC VALUE: INVESTIGATING EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITY POLICING IN MALAWI’S LILONGWE DISTRICT

Abstract

This thesis investigated police and community’s experiences of community policing as a form of co-producing public safety and security in Malawi’s Lilongwe district. Specifically, the study examined what the police (active and retired) and the public (civil society leaders, community police forum (CPF), neighbourhood watch (NHW) groups and members of the community) perceived as benefits, challenges and opportunities associated with community policing as a form of co-production. Qualitative research approach with phenomenological strategy of inquiry was used in the study. Results revealed that community policing had several public value benefits including improved knowledge and understanding of the concept community policing among both police and members of the public, enhanced general and personal safety and security, improved trust in community police forums and neighbourhood watch groups, improved police friendliness and several other benefits. The study also revealed that community policing faced many challenges which included human rights abuse and misconduct by both police officers and members of CPF and NHW, lack of feedback from the police, lack of joint patrols, assaults and injuries among community police members and neglect of duties by police officers. Missed opportunities revealed by the study included willingness of the community to conduct joint patrols with police, availability of information and communication technology as well as artificial intelligence. The study provided comprehensive application of New Public Service and Decentralisation theories in community policing, adding new knowledge on community policing through empirical evidence on benefits, challenges and missed opportunities of community policing as a form co-production in Malawi’s Lilongwe. The study suggested further research on knowledge and understanding of the concept community policing; disparities in citizen trust in the police in rural areas, low and high-density areas and willingness of by the community to compensate CPF and NHW members.