BUILDING CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT OF LAND-USE REGULATIONS: PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF VIOLENT CRIME EXPERIENCED BY DEVELOPMENT CONTROL OFFICERS

Abstract

Violence against Development Control Officers (DCOs) and injuries sustained from assaults is not only a frequent occurrence but also often hidden from official and empirical research view. Other than the police, there is a dearth of studies on violence against regulation enforcement officers. This study analyses the results of a survey carried out to examine the occurrence and characteristics of assaults experienced by DCOs in Nigeria. Using Ogun state a case study, the 20 zonal development control areas represent clusters from which at least a respondent was randomly selected. A mixed-method approach was used to analyse the data. Findings show that assault is a common occurrence against DCOs. Results link the frequency of direct personal contact with people to the increasing vulnerability of DCOs to assaults. Results of the logistic regression show that assaults are more common to female than male officers, and may be frequent for DCOs with less experience on the job. In conclusion, there is prevalence of violence against DCOs in Nigeria. A co-production efforts by state and non-state stakeholders are therefore needed to ensure the safety of the DCOs and to improve the quality of land-use and that of the built environment.