INSECURITY IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A GROWING WORLD CONCER

Abstract

Transport security and safety has attracted global attention in recent times. Safety occupies a central theme in public transport. It affects consideration for the travel pattern and level of patronage in public transport. Globally, crime has become a social problem across towns and cities particularly along major bus-stops, transport routes, and other public places along public transit. Categories of crimes in public transport that have been identified in the literature include: kidnapping, harassments, murder, assaults, rape, pick pocketing, armed robbery, assault and battery. There has been uncontrolled increase in incidence of crime and insecurity in public transit worldwide, particularly in developing countries, including Nigeria. In most cities, the risk to lives and properties are becoming regular features on transport routes and terminals. In many countries in both developed and developing areas of the world, many travelers have been victims of transit crime. Available studies in recent times have shown that uncontrolled increasing in frequency, dimension and advancement in crime is a growing challenge across the world. The paper is an overview of insecurity in public transport with a view to find out what information already exist on crime and insecurity in public transport, discusses conceptual and theoretical issues, identify methodological and research technique approaches, and conclusions.