One of the main challenges among urban dwellers is security. Everyone treats the other like a suspect.
Since people come from rural communities searching for “greener” pastures, others have a different motive.
As they come to the city, life becomes unbearable. Going back to the village is also not an option.
They are used to the “good” life. To sustain the newfound lifestyle, they opt to engage in criminal activities to make ends meet.
People think criminals are gunmen living in deplorable conditions. That only contributes to 30 percent of them.
Some of them are dressed men and women in expensive designer clothes to camouflage their dirty deals.
Have you ever heard of hackers? These are people living large in society. They are smart to a point it becomes difficult for the security personnel to get hold of them.
Empowering citizens of good morals and upholding societal virtues takes center stage in reducing crime in the city.
Public administrators and faith leaders play a significant role here. As much as their careers take parallel paths when it comes to conflict management, they all gear towards the same goal- instilling good virtues to citizens.
How public administrators can improve security
The security of an urban area is a collective responsibility of all departments.
Public administrators under the security docket are guided by the constitution to fulfill their mandate.
Although they can still be involved in faith-based outreach programs, the power of the weapon is their redeemer.
They liaise with the security personnel who use the gun to pull a trigger when needed.
Apart from the gun, they also use other means to pass the message to the citizens threatening the security of the people.
Here are a few of them
- Policy administration
- Use of the security forces
- Engaging the community in outreach programs
- Creating security awareness through media
- Use of correctional centers
Public administration is a vast sector, just like different parts of the gun.
The inbuilt or detachable gun accessories all play a significant role in the perfect functioning of the firearm.
Similarly, public administrators can’t succeed in the security war alone; they need stakeholders to ensure the urban-dwelling are safe and secure.
Something else, the support of the public in volunteering information and digital technology enhancement, makes the whole security operation safe and successful with minimal fatalities.
How Faith leaders Can improve security
Universal human values are taught in religious institutions.
The fear of the wrath from the supernatural being creates a sense of fear if not respect among believers, which is the right way to change stubborn people from their criminal acts. They do this through the following programs
- Seminars and conferences
- Empowerment programs
- Community outreach
- Income-generating activities
- Spiritual, motivational talks
- Seminars and conferences
Religious conferences have varied audiences, including the criminals who act as role models.
As they come out to present their experiences, it’s a platform for other like-minded individuals to look at the crime as an eye-opener for change.
- Empowerment programs
When life in the city becomes unbearable, what options do such individuals have? Faith-
Based Organizations now run an empowerment program that equips them with hands-on skills to help affected people have a meaningful life out of their acquired skills.
- Community outreach
When insecurity is rampant in an estate, faith leaders can’t sit and watch it go the drain. One of the best options is to reach out to the community.
The outreach programs give criminals a chance to express themselves. They find out the reasons for their behavior and try and sort it out from that perspective.
- Income-generating activity
When the source of income is the sole reason people choose to engage in muggings and theft, the organization can source funding to provide them with the necessary skills.
As if that is not enough, they move a notch higher to hold their hand and create jobs based on the skills.
- Spiritual, motivational talks
When all other avenues fail in making a change in an individual’s behavior, then intimate spiritual talks are an alternative.
It creates a sense of belonging and allowing an individual to a sole search to have a purpose in life.
If you can achieve that, then the rest falls in place, especially behavioral change.
Faith leaders need state administrators to achieve their objectives with minimal effort.
On the other hand, public administrators also need spiritual leaders to instill human values to the citizens for smooth cohesion and integration among people living in urban areas.
