The Effect Of Stress Among Police Officers In Tanzania

ABSTRACT

Law enforcement is a stressful profession. It is assumed that police work is among the world’s most

stressful occupations. Policemen and policewomen are some of the most misunderstood people in

the world. As crime becomes a major social problem in the world today, the public perception of

the “men in khaki” is very low. Crime rates have been increasing in most developing countries. In

Tanzania, everybody is concerned about escalating crime rate. Most parts of Kahama are considered

unsafe and downgraded to class “C” category. It is the police force, which is responsible of crime

management. The public has a notion that policemen are not doing enough. They feel that the

policeman shoots at people and intimidate them. To justify this conviction they give simple

references such as “after all was it not a bunch of police officers who nailed Jesus Christ on the

cross?” The study used several inter-related approaches in data acquisition. Three level of

Administration Police Officer and members of their families overall 54 Administration Police

Officers and 6 members of their family were interviewed. This research project serves as a vital

reference point for any meaningful intervention in this area. The principle assumption behind this

study is that the mission of Administration Police exits to contribute to National development

through the provision of sustainable peace and tranquility to all people in Tanzanian. For this to be

achieved, common sense and sound judgment must prevail. It has however been noted that high

level of stress related illness are causing concern across the entire Administration Police department

making it hard for the force to achieve this noble goals. Arising from the study, there is a connection

between Administration Police Officers stress and job performance. The study indicated that all the

officers working abilities are impaired when they are under stress .This partly explains the cause of

bizarre behaviours commonly portrayed by Administration Police Officers. To minimize or control

stress among Administration Police Officers, the administrative decision making process should be

devolved, deployment and transfer streamlined, political interference curbed, counseling intensified and above all improve the welfare of the officers.