Conflict Management Strategies and Operational Efficiency in Criminal Investigations:
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Date
2022-10
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Kampala International University
Abstract
This study examined the effect of conflict management strategies and operational efficiency of criminal investigations: a study of Kampala Metropolitan Police, South Region. The study was guided by the following specific objectives to: assess the effect of negotiation, superior goal and third-party intervention on operational efficiency of criminal investigations. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used for the mutual validation of the results. The study sample size of 104 respondents selected using simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview guide. Findings revealed that lack of negotiations strategies on how best to handle operations in criminal investigations fast by collaborating with criminals and community to curb insecurity. The study established that keeping law, order, peace and security was the superior goal of UPF, however, peoples life and property were at risk due to CIDs failure to understand their role in specific criminal investigations like land fraud, terrorism, murder, rape, defilement, robbery, homicides, assault, burglary . CIDs lacked technical expertise in handling criminal investigations and required support from third parties such as; office of DPP, counter terrorism unit, health workers, and telecommunication networks, banks to provide: electronic/digital case tracking system with secure links, enhanced database for expeditiously handling investigations specifically, discovering collecting, preparing, identifying and presenting evidence. The complex nature of sexual offences, homicide and murder criminality obstructed investigations and search for evidence as third party intervention exhibited technical challenges merged in conflicting; public interest, political interest, external influence, personal interests, DPP biasness, conflicting procedures that hides evidences (witnesses) from government analytical laboratories, communication networks, banks among others and well established vigilance in the fight against criminality. The study concludes that there is a strong significant positive relationship between negotiation and operational efficiency at KMPS (r = .109, p<.224). The results of Pearson correlation coefficient indicates that there is a significant positive relationship between superior goal and operational efficiency at KMPS. (r = .108, p=.244>0.01). There was a significant positive relationship between third party intervention and operational efficiency at KMPS (r =-.085, p=.348>0.01). The study recommends that the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Internal Affairs should support the budget of UPF to carry out sensitizing programs for citizens about their collaborative and pertinent role in controlling crime in the cities and urban populated areas of KMPS. There is need to conduct trainings to empower CID officers with competencies and skills in negotiation tactics and how to handle complexity cases. There is need to recruit more police staff to overcome handling multiple handling of load of criminal investigations by a single personnel to improve operational efficiency. Ministry of internal affairs should provide UPF at KMPS consultative services to permit amicable decision making between UPF senior officers and the junior officers. The study also advocates that further research to establish how criminality beyond boarders for instance among countries without bilateral agreements and with different laws affects dispensation of criminal acts such as murder, rape fraud, cybercrime affects the operational efficiency in criminal investigations. Further research be conducted to evaluate police involvement in civil matters such as tenants deliberate attempt to refuse to pay rent, drunkards failing to pay for the booze and its effect on operational efficiency. Finally, further studies be done on how community ignorance about the law affects performance of Uganda police force.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted to the College of Higher Degrees and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution of Kampala International University - Uganda
Keywords
Conflict Management Strategies, Operational Efficiency, Criminal Investigations, Kampala Metropolitan Police, South Region