Browsing by Author "Ramsi, Nuru"

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    Testing Michael Lipsky’s theory on the working of the Tanzanian police force: a case of Dar es Salaam.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2018) Ramsi, Nuru
    The purpose of this study was to test a theory Street level bureaucracy propounded by Michael Lipsky (1980). This theory is about the unbearable cross-pressure that street-level bureaucrats experience and how they act to ease them through the discretionary powers vested to them. A total number of 149 respondents were included in the sample. Data was obtained through structured and unstructured interviews, questionnaires as well as observation. From the study it was noted that the working environment of the Tanzanian police force is not enabling similar to what Lipsky (1980) once propounded. Tanzanian Police Officers as street level bureaucrats are faced with poor working environment. They lack enough time to process information, they are few in number, citizens are a threat to them and in addition to Lipsky’s theory, Tanzanian street level bureaucrats particularly the police officers in Dar es Salaam are faced with inadequate working facilities such as motor vehicles which are necessary in crime prevention. Tanzanian police officers as street level bureaucrats lack enough training to sharpen their skills, they lack enough houses for them to stay for easier monitoring and moreover they are not properly compensated. However, despite that awkward environment, the Tanzanian police officers as street level bureaucrats makes sure that they do their best to accomplish their tasks in a positive way unlike what Lipsky once explained that street level bureaucrats through their discretionary power implement policies in a bad and unintended way hence leads to consequences like inequality, dysfunction etc. Discretion possessed by the Tanzanian police officers as street level bureaucrats benefits themselves and the citizens they serve as they comply with the guidelines established. With this regard, the theory propounded by Lipsky (1980) hold true in some aspects where as on the other side it proves otherwise. For the other researchers, this study recommends that a research should be done to understand the perception of citizens over the street level bureaucrats especially the Tanzanian police officers.