International Journal of Applied Sociology 2013, 3(4): 71-75 DOI: 10.5923/j.ijas.20130304.01 Social Factors Affecting Effective Crime Prevention and Control in Nigeria Anthony Abayomi Adebayo Department of Sociology, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Abstract Every society across the globe has its peculiar problems and challenges. Nigeria is not an exception. As a developing country, she faces her own share of social, political, economic and cultural problems which has in no small measure affected the well-being of the populace. One of such problems bedevilling the country is the rising wave of crime. This study examined the increasing wave of crime in Nigeria and the factors incapacitating the police and other security agencies in the task of crime prevention and control. This study reveals that the security agencies are inadequately equipped and motivated, coupled with poverty, unemployment and the breakdown of family values among others have made crime prevention and control a difficult task. The paper proffered that the police should be better motivated and greater effort should be made to address poverty and unemployment. Keywords Society, Crime, Prevention, Control, Effectiveness, Security Agencies 1. Introduction The prevalence of crime in the world today is a cause for serious concern for all and sundry. It undermines the social fabric by eroding the sense of safety and security. Crime impacts on society in a variety of ways according to the nature and extent of crime committed. It constitutes a problem when its incidence is so rampant in the society as to constitute a threat to the security of persons and property, as well as social order and solidarity.[1] The costs of crime are tangible and intangible, economic or social, direct or indirect, physical or psychological, individual or community. In fact, it is from the cost that the consequences of crime are derived. The cost of crime can be incurred as a result of actual experience of criminal activities, when there is physical injury, when properties are stolen, damaged or destroyed. It could also be in the form of psychological and emotional pains as a result of shock due to the crime done against the victim. Also the cost of crime can be incurred in an attempt to prevent or control crime. As a consequence of the prevalence of crime in society, the demographic composition may be altered through mass movement of people from crime-prone areas to areas perceived to be relatively crime-free. This can also lead to brain-drain and other socio-economic problems. Crime is a threat to the economic, political and social security of a nation and a major factor associated with * Corresponding author: adebayo_nthny@yahoo.com (Anthony Abayomi Adebayo) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ijas Copyright © 2013 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved underdevelopment; because it discourages both local and foreign investments, reduces the quality of life, destroys human and social capital, damages relationship between citizens and the states, thus undermining democracy, rule of law and the ability of the country to promote development. Emile Durkheim considered crime to be an integral aspect of society and a “normal” social phenomenon in the sense that it has existed in all societies throughout history. Durkheim believe that mala prohibita crimes (crimes which violates social norms) functions in society as a means of defining the limits of acceptable behaviour, serving as vehicle for social change by extending and testing those boundaries.[2] 2. The Notion of Crime Crime is like other concepts in social sciences, which have no generally accepted definition. At first sight, it seems easy to define crime as doing something wrong or relating crime to immorality. Is there any agreement over what is morally wrong or right? Should all moral wrongs be crimes? It could also be asked whether all crimes are moral wrongs. In a strict legal sense, crime is the breaking of rules or laws for which some governing authority (via mechanisms such as legal systems) can ultimately prescribe a conviction. Crime in the social and legal framework is the set of facts or assumptions that are part of a case in which there were committed acts punishable under criminal law, and the application of which depends on the agent of a sentence or security measure criminal. In criminal law, crime is an act of omission which attracts sanctions such as fines, imprisonment or even death. [3] According to Oxford Dictionary of Sociology (2009:139) “a crime is held to be an offence, which goes beyond the