Job satisfaction in the Royal Swaziland Police Service : a case study of Manzini and Hhohho regions

Abstract

World over, police officers are tasked with the responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the society. The Swaziland Government has given the Royal Swaziland Police Service (RSPS) performance targets of reducing crime in the country by twelve percent. Over the years, the RSPS has been struggling to meet its performance targets. The research aimed to investigate job satisfaction in the RSPS. The objectives of the study included to examine the factors that influence job satisfaction within the RSPS, to explore the perceived impact of job satisfaction on performance and to make recommendations to the police management on how job satisfaction in the RSPS can be enhanced. A case study involving two administrative regions (Manzini and Hhohho) using a quantitative and qualitative research was adopted. Questionnaires were handed to 345 police officers (respondents) using a personal approach as part of the quantitative research. This showed a 100 percent response rate. The qualitative research involved conducting recorded semi-structured interviews with 10 senior police officers, which included serving and retired officers. A focus group discussion was conducted with 9 junior police officers as a form of control in the qualitative research. Data was scientifically analyzed using the Scientific Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12. It enabled the researcher to describe and compare variable numerically. The findings of the study showed that the respondents perform effectively when given necessary resources. Respondents are willing to put a great deal of effort beyond of what is normally expected of them in order to make the RSPS successful. On another note, most of the respondents are generally not satisfied with the salary increases and allowances as they are not adequate to meet the increasing cost of living. The respondents expressed that not everyone is treated fairly and that promotions are not based on ability. An improvement in police officers accommodation is needed. Recommendations to improving job satisfaction in the RSPS are presented in the study. Finally, the literature reviewed and findings show that there is a significant relationship between job satisfaction and performance.