Climate Change Effects on Policing in Delta State, Nigeria

Sunday I. Efe^*, Alex Eyefia

Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/jss.2015.35015                

Abstract

The study assesses the effects of climate change on police operation in Delta state. To achieve this climate, data were extracted from the archives of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Met Station of the Department of Geography Delta State University Abraka, and police operation data were collected from the archive of the police diary at the state police headquarter. The results showed an evidence of climate change in delta state with a rise of 3^oC in temperature, and decadal rainfall increase of 120 mm; 56 mm and 121 mm in three epochs (1975-1984, 1985-1994 and 1995-2014). The first and last decades are wetter than the second epoch. There is a general increase in annual Police and vigilant operations from 1975 to 2014 and their operations are significantly dependent on increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. Thus increase in rainfall and rise in temperature bring corresponding reduction in police and local vigilante operations in the state. It therefore recommended that federal and state government should provide rain coat, safety boot, umbrella, good vehicles to police on duty; and police and vigilante should embark on regular patrol be it raining or sunny day. This is because crimes (breaking and entry, armed robbery etc.) increase when it is raining heavily.

Keywords

Rainfall, Temperature, Highway Patrol, Street Patrol, Vigilante Patrol

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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