An Analysis of the Relationship between Neighbourhood Ties and Crime Perception in Minna, Niger State

Abstract

Studies have shown that neighbourhood ties are significant in crime reduction, the lack of neighbourhood ties limits the capacity of neighbourhoods to regulate and control behaviour which contributes to higher rates of crime. Prevention of crime has taking a significant part of our lives, as many people in our urban centres and cities today worry about crime, ensuring doors are locked when leaving the house, installing CCTV and security alarm or avoiding a high crime neighbourhood. This study therefore assesses the relationship between neighbourhood ties and resident’s perception of crime in Minna. The study employed quantitative approach using structured questionnaire. Total of 420 residences were randomly sampled from eight (8) neighbourhoods in Minna. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between neighbourhood ties and resident’s perception of crime. The study found that that there is a moderate negative significant relationship between neighbourhood ties and resident’s perception of crime in Minna (rho= -.399, p= <.01). This implies that the higher the level of neighbourhood ties the lower the resident’s perception of crime in Minna. More importantly, the study however found that neighbourhood ties had different effect in different types of neighbourhoods in Minna. Specifically, neighbourhood ties significantly and negatively had relationship on resident’s perception of crime in high density neighbourhoods, while it had no significant relationship on resident’s perception of crime in medium and low-density neighbourhoods. The study findings suggest that strengthening of neighbourhood ties among residents will go a long way in controlling residential neighbourhood crime as much as possible. This study serves as call to urban planner and government agencies towards achieving sustainable neighbourhood’s development.