E-Thesis 17 views
Co-Designing Technologies for Community Policing: Stakeholder Engagement Strategies for Nigerian Police and Citizens / Obinna Otuu
Swansea University Author: Obinna Otuu
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.71599
Abstract
Community policing (CP) in Nigeria faces significant challenges in technology adoption due to power imbalances that have made marginalized groups reluctant to engage in shared technology design processes. The lack of a balanced technology design framework has hindered effective collaboration between...
| Published: |
Swansea
2026
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Deepak, Sahoo |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71599 |
| Abstract: |
Community policing (CP) in Nigeria faces significant challenges in technology adoption due to power imbalances that have made marginalized groups reluctant to engage in shared technology design processes. The lack of a balanced technology design framework has hindered effective collaboration between police authorities and local communities, leading to disengagement and skepticism toward CP technologies therein. Addressing these issues is crucial for creating CP tools that are both widely acceptable and usable for the enhancement of public safety. This thesis examines the complexities of designing CP technologies in Nigeria, emphasizing technology acceptance and user experience among stakeholders with varying levels of authority and influence. It explores the perspectives of authoritative participants, such as police officers, alongside citizens who feel uncomfortable and fearful to engage in co-design activities. Through an extensive combination of survey and in-depth interviews, the research captures CP awareness, distinct technological needs, concerns, and expectations of these groups, identifying key barriers to technology adoption. To address these challenges, the research employs a nuanced conflict-sensitive design (CSD) framework, incorporating various mediation techniques to facilitate engagement among stakeholders despite their adversarial positions. This approach enables co-designing efforts tailored to the specific requirements of different user groups, ensuring that their voices are integrated into the design process. Following initial design stages, prototypes of CP technologies were tested with both Nigerian citizens and police officers, revealing promising results in terms of technology acceptance, user experience, and usage modalities. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for policymakers shaping CP strategies and industry stakeholders developing CP technologies. Overall, this research contributes the CSD method to the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) literature and enriches the broader discourse on inclusive technological design in public safety. It demonstrates that a conflict-sensitive, collaborative approach can foster engagement among diverse stakeholders, bridging the gap between authority and marginalized groups. |
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| Item Description: |
ORCiD identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9751-7035 |
| Keywords: |
Community policing, Conflict Sensitive Design, Co-design, Participatory design, Stakeholder engagement, Human-centered computing, Civic technology, Police–citizen collaboration, Public safety technologies, Nigeria |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |