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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Protection from Crime: What is on Offer for Africans?
Author:Baker, BruceISNI
Year:2004
Periodical:Journal of Contemporary African Studies
Volume:22
Issue:2
Period:May
Pages:165-188
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subjects:organized crime
crime prevention
police
national security
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Law, Human Rights and Violence
External links:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/cjca0258900042000230005
http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4A52A70D92F54C24333D
Abstract:The perceptions of failing State police and rising crime have created a situation where a plethora of non-State policing groups has emerged across Africa. Their variety is bewildering. They include informal organized security groups (vigilantes), religious police, ethnic/clan militias, political party militia groups, Civil Defence Forces, both informal and formal commercial security groups, State-approved civil guarding, traditional courts, and restorative justice committees ('community courts'). They may be characterized according to their role(s) as authorizer or provider, operational range, legality of actions, degree of cooperation with State police, commercial status (for profit or not), and mentality of surveillance or punishment. The widespread use of and support for non-State policing undermines the legitimacy of the State police and exacerbates inequality, since the nature of non-State policing means that it cannot offer equality of accessibility and adjudication. Accountability, quality of service, available sanctions and consistency of treatment for citizens are all matters for real concern. Though perhaps inevitable, non-State policing creates serious problems for new democracies. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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