engleski

The Community Policing Evaluation Survey in Flooded Croatian Areas

Purpose: This paper explores the level of community policing implementation in the Croatian eastern areas that had been flooded in 2014, in comparison with similar rural areas in Croatia that had been not flooded at all. Design/methodology/approach: A random sample of 80 inhabitants from flooded areas and 80 inhabitants from other similar Croatian areas participated in this particular community policing evaluation survey. The respondents evaluated the quality of contact with police, public perceptions of crime and disorder, personal fear of victimization and community cohesion. Findings: Given results reveal some significant differences in key community policing components between flooded and other rural Croatian areas. It is interesting that there is a higher quality of the relationship between the local police and the population in the flooded areas than in other similar Croatian areas. Though there are no significant differences in fear of victimization between respondents from observed Croatian areas, the given data indicate that respondents from flooded areas are not afraid of burglary, but respondents from other areas are afraid of being attacked by burglars. When it comes to perceptions of social cohesion, the only difference between respondents from compared Croatian areas is that residents of not flooded areas are not satisfied with the level of joint solving of community problems. Research limitations/implications: Given results cannot be generalized because of the small sample size. However, this study indicates the main community policing components in observed parts of Croatia, so it is a good starting point for further research on much bigger samples. The more complex study is needed because the lack of research focused on the impact of natural disasters on social control and community cohesion. Originality/value: This is the first study in Croatia analyzing the relation between natural disaster and community policing.

Croatia ; Community policing ; Evaluation ; Natural disaster

nije evidentirano