FACTORS THAT INFLUENCES CRIME REPORTING IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA

Public perception of the police continues to be a critical motivators of crime reporting and overall security management. Despite initiatives such as community policing, issues such as corruption, abuse of power fear of retaliation, and physical infrastructure problem still hinder successful crime reporting. Previous studies have largely focused on crime rate and policy reform; there is limited emphasis on police performance. The study investigated crime reporting, with a view to examining police performance, police community relations, and public confidence in shaping reporting behavior. Descriptive design was used data were elicited using structured questionnaires which were served to 400 residents of Abeokuta south, Ogun state with the population of 446,985. 375 responses were retrieved for analysis. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Socio-demographics: age, education, and marital status significantly predicted willingness to report crime. Police trust (β = 0.253, t = 3.875, p < 0.05) and police performance (β = 0.211, t = 3.229, p < 0.05) positively influenced reporting rates; community policing practices (β = 0.006, t = 0.210, p > 0.05) were not independent predictors. Fear of retaliation, perception of corruption, and previous negative experience decreased willingness to report crime. Perceived fairness and police transparency were positively associated with good reporting behaviour. The findings underscore that socio-demographic determinants, trust, and police operational performance are influential determinants of crime-reporting behaviour in Ogun State. Attempts should consistently be made to build trust, training of police officers in a professional manner, publicised complaint-handling mechanisms, and follow-up processes to encourage active citizens’