| dc.description.abstract | This study set out to establish the communicative effects of the police dress code policy,
particularly to establish the Public and Police perception on various colours of police
uniform; determining how the colour of police uniforms influence the public's
cooperation with the police; establishing the views that the Kenya public and the police
force hold about the police uniform in relation to performance and service delivery and
finally give recommendations on how the police dress code can be improved to enhance
the police force corporate image and service delivery to the public.
The researcher was prompted to study on the communicative dynamics of the police
dressing code on the grounds that: in today's mass-market media-driven society, it is
becoming difficult to defme the forces role and image before someone else does it, this
holds for police departments. A public develops and holds an image of its police
department. This image defines the status of the police department and its employees in
the community's esteem. It also affects the department's recruitment and retention, and
the support it receives from the community. There is quite a lot of negative perception
assigned by the general public to the police force in Kenya, once they are seen in their
uniforms. In the mind of an average public, the police officers once spotted in uniform is
perceived to be an atrocious, dishonest, rude and constantly on the look out of
opportunity to exhort money out of the public. Therefore many police officers are not
viewed as caring human beings and at times left alone to fight crimes. It is upon this that
the research is developed to reality ascertain the communicative dynamics of the police
force dressing code in relation to their corporate image and service delivery to the public.
The study used a survey technique which covered the selected police stations, formations,
and officers in Nairobi alongside the general public to whom service is delivered, and
whose views were collected, to help gain insight into this line of inquiry.
The major findings of the research indicated that there is positive impact of uniforms on
police roles and policing strategies. The police uniform provides the most relevant
implications and a potential focus for further examination of policy directions in the
police force. Most of the respondents indicated that the colour of the police uniform is
quite good and the public have positive perceptions of the various colours of police
officers uniform because the colours allow the public to easily identify them and further
make the officers approachable by the public .The study singles out the blue police
uniform as friendly enhancing the public cooperation with the police while on duty. A
small proportionate of respondents however, suggested that the khaki uniform is quite
intimidating to the public. The police officers who were interviewed indicated no
relationship between the colours of their uniform and performance.
It was quite clear from the views of the public as regards police uniform in relation to the
service they receive from the police as positive. This is evident from their views that the
uniforms make them approachable, easily identifiable, suits the profession best, looks
clean, presentable and durable and enhances the public confidence. Majority of the police
officers were indifferent on the need to have dress code exceptions in different Units,
departments, formations, ranks! cadres while discharging their duties.
The views held by both the police officers and the public on the police dressing code in
relation to performance of their duties was that various uniforms used by the police force
communicate and expresses a prevailing correctional philosophy, a manner in which the
police officers execute their duties with authority and identity. The findings further
indicate that police officers have no problem with the various colours of their uniforms.
The police do not perceive their dressing code as an impediment to effective service
delivery to the public. They instead attribute the uniform to enhance level of cooperation
they receive from the public.
The study makes number of the recommendations: That the police officers attire can
influence their performance and behaviors within the police force; the dressing code
policy adds value to the corporate image of the police force. This is due to the fact that
there are too many different sections within the police force and therefore, to avoid
confusion among the members of the public. However, the dressing code policy should
change to allow the police officers in the urban area to wear shirts that look friendly to
the public. This is because the current dressing code scares the public to some extent.
Finally, the police uniform should be well maintained at all times, that is to be clean
presentable, not tom or faded nor should they be in different shades of the recommended
colours. The police officers should be issued with new uniforms every now and then and
fitted to their sizes. This would go a long way to create a positive public image. | en |
