Exploring Strategies for Enhancing Youth Participation in Community Policing in Dodoma, Tanzania
Walii Matengo and Elizabeth Msoka
St John’s University of Tanzania
Email: wankyrshna@gmail.com
Abstract: Despite ongoing law enforcement efforts, urban and peri-urban areas in Tanzania continue to face evolving crime challenges that require broader community involvement. In this regard, this paper discusses the assessment of strategies usedfor youth engagement in community policing for crime prevention in Dodoma District, Tanzania. The study guided by Community Policing Theory and Social Control Theory. The research adopted a qualitative multiple case study design, gathering data from 52 participants including police officers, ward officials, community leaders, youth, and volunteers through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and documentary reviews, followed by thematic analysis. The findings revealed that youth are recruited through local government registers, community meetings, and youth groups, and are engaged via neighborhood patrols, security meetings, committees, and awareness campaigns. This structured involvement has boosted transparency, accountability, and community ownership, while significantly contributing to local safety through enhanced real-time information sharing, early threat detection, increased surveillance, and stronger police-community cooperation. However, youth participation faces critical challenges, including high unemployment, a lack of financial incentives or resources, limited security awareness, mutual mistrust, and a pervasive fear of retaliation from criminals. The study concludes that while youthare indispensable to effective crime prevention, their long-term participation requires supportive institutional frameworks, capacity building, and improved trust with security actors. It recommends strengthening youth empowerment programs, expanding training and awareness initiatives, establishing robust whistle blower protection mechanisms, and implementing inclusive policies that treat youth as true partners in maintaining public safety.
