Curfew Implementation: Extent, Impact, Problems and Solutions in a Town in the Philippines

Abstract

This paper examined the implementation of curfew in a town in Region 9, Philippines to provide a descriptive analysis of the policy, practices, and outcomes of curfew restriction. The descriptive survey method was used in this study. A self-designed questionnaire, which passed a thorough validation and reliability testing, was used to gather the necessary data. Two hundred six (206) participants (Barangay Peace Auxiliary Team, police officers, teachers, community residents) were purposively chosen to answer the survey questionnaire. The problems with curfew enforcement and solutions were identified using SARA Model. The finding of the study revealed that curfew encompasses variation on time, execution, consequences of violations, and targeted individuals. The policy and practices in curfew implementation may influence the outcome of the enforcement. The comparison of crime before and after curfew implementation shows a reduction of crime in the town.

Headnote

Abstract

This paper examined the implementation of curfew in a town in Region 9, Philippines to provide a descriptive analysis of the policy, practices, and outcomes of curfew restriction. The descriptive survey method was used in this study. A self-designed questionnaire, which passed a thorough validation and reliability testing, was used to gather the necessary data. Two hundred six (206) participants (Barangay Peace Auxiliary Team, police officers, teachers, community residents) were purposively chosen to answer the survey questionnaire. The problems with curfew enforcement and solutions were identified using SARA Model. The finding of the study revealed that curfew encompasses variation on time, execution, consequences of violations, and targeted individuals. The policy and practices in curfew implementation may influence the outcome of the enforcement. The comparison of crime before and after curfew implementation shows a reduction of crime in the town.

Keywords: Curfew, Crime Reduction, Crime Prevention, Crime Rate, Benefits of Curfew, Curfew Problems, Curfew Solutions.

Introduction

Prevention of crimes is an attempt to maintain a peaceful community, which is done mainly through the efforts of the government to suppress crimes, arrest law violators, and detect would-be criminals. Crime and violence prevention is essential in enhancing citizen's welfare, which requires a comprehensive approach from the grass root level to reduce the crimes ultimately (USAID, n.d). This grass root approach is considered the vital means in crime response (Hastings, 2005), and is viewed as an alternative means in engaging the formal justice system (Welsh & Farrington, 2012). Crime prevention is also about identifying the nature and solution of the crime problem and persuading others to implement solutions (Sampson et al., 2010). The description of the criminal justice system among countries varies hugely on their means of crime prevention. Small in numbers such as England, the United States, and New Zealand depend on prevention and restrictions to control crime (Tonry, 2011). The Guidelines of the United Nations for the Prevention of Crime, Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/13 assume that the government at all levels is responsible for devising an approach to prevent criminal activities. The approach for crime prevention has shown a substantial role in reducing crime rate (Patalinghug, 2017). Moreover, the National Institute of Justice postulates that effort, such as disorder policing, was regarded as promising to reduce different types of crimes (NIJ, n.d.).

Disorder policing is a crime prevention technique that shifts away from the traditional model of policing, focusing on the physical and social indication of disorder in the neighborhoods. One approach includes the implementation of community-based or problem-based strategies of policing (National Institute of Justice, n.d). Others include strict orders zero-tolerance policing practices (Eck and Maguire 2000; Cordner 1998; National Institute of Justice, n.d) and community or problem-oriented policing (Skogan 2006; Eck & Maguire 2006). These practices involved the implementation of laws and ordinances on crime prevention and reduction efforts (National Institute of Justice, n.d). Bannister and colleagues (2001) conducted a study on National Police in America, and they found that in general, police officials have a preference for preventive strategies but also tended to advocate vigorous enforcement actions in preventing crimes among those considered to be habitual offenders. Most of them believed that enforcing the law is the best method in preventing crimes (Bannister et al., 2001).

The tradition of crime prevention spans over 200 years, and even today, its core tenet governs our implementers in no small degree (Crawford and Evans, 2017). Among the different conducted activities, curfew is recognized by Adams (2003) as popular and known to be effective in reducing crime incidence and in restricting people at a specific place at a particular time (Grossman & Hoke, 2014). Laws restricting people to stay in public areas on particular time have a long history (Collins & Kearns, 2001). Curfew has long been used for purposes of repression, control on the use of public spaces, and for the safety of the public (Brass, 2006; Amsden, 2008). Recently, governments enforce curfews to limit the movement of people during a state of emergency and crisis (Site Google, n.d.). Mayors and police officers in the US contend that curfews aid in reducing crime (Gius, 2011).

Furthermore, supporters of curfew also asserted that curfew aids law enforcement in identifying people in the community who are at high risk (Hazen & Brank, 2017). Curfew law is an overarching mechanism for dissuading young people from violence and victimization across the community. Therefore, decreased opportunity to commit crimes translates into fewer crimes committed (Wilson et al. 2016).

Crime incidence is common around the world, with no exception, including the Philippines (Vollaard, 2006). In the country, fighting crimes and illegal drugs is the top priority of the new leadership embodied in the concept of public safety in the national security agenda for building a peaceful and safe community (Duterte, 2018). Changes have also been made in the government policy to ensure that peace efforts remain ongoing (Regional Development Council IX, 2010). Different methods of crime prevention and peace-building activities were organized by the national and local governments to maximize the capacity to fight criminality and maintain a peaceful community.

Crime prevention programs are often introduced on local government or neighborhood levels in the form of crime reduction measures and initiatives (Hope, 2017). The local government plays a vital role in crime prevention initiatives in countries of Nigeria (Baba et al., 2017) and Australia (Homel & Fuller, 2015) as it is involved in the planning, organization, and delivery of crime prevention programs and measures. Thus, local government is at the core in developing localized crime prevention initiatives as they recognized the complexity of the issues on committed crimes in their area (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012).

USAID (n.d.) identified the role of local governments, such as identifying individuals who are at risk, providing resources, and communicating and disseminating of intervention results. Local government enacts crime prevention initiatives in the form of curfew and usually stipulates conditions when the curfew is enforced (LawFirms, n.d.). Curfew enactment is a means for curbing youth crimes, protecting youth from violence in public places, and promoting responsible parenting in New Zealand and the US (Collins & Kearns, 2001). Curfew prohibits varied activities and implements punishment to enhance public safety and control delinquency. It was founded upon the notion that prohibition on the general activities of youngsters restricts their chances of committing crimes and victimization (McDowall et al., 2000). The primary purpose of curfew is social control to regulate members of the identified population being in public space at a specific time. However, a few piece of research denotes that targeted enforcement can have a positive impact on curfew law on particular types of harm (Hazen & Brank, 2017).

While combating criminality and maintaining public order are two of the essential tasks of the government, policy makers seem to have very little knowledge about how to achieve this aim (Vollaard, 2006). With this information, the government of the Philippines and all its institutions are charged to prepare in meeting this challenge at hand (Marinas et al., n.d.). Reported crime incidence moved the national and local governments to take action to solve issues on peace and public safety. Fast analysis of the crime figures from the Philippine National Police (PNP) reveals that in the middle of 2008 and early 2009 and again between 2012 and 2013, there was also a significant increase in crimes committed. The number of the crime for 2013 was 631.406; almost three times increase of volume as high as 217.812 compared to the previous year. PNP Regional Office 9 reports the comparative crime statistics for the calendar year 2014 which shows that the province of Zamboanga del Sur ranked second among the highest in the region having a crime volume of 364 or 17.66 % (RIDMD, 2016). With this spike in number of crimes, the government commits to curbing criminality and strengthening the capacity of police departments to address the issue (Cupin, 2014).

Challenged with the crimes in different forms, different ways to contemplate, and ways to solve them, the enactment of policy became complicated and queried (Tonry, 2011). To address the increasing issues on crime in the locality, most of the towns in the Zamboanga Peninsula region including the local government in the town of Dumingag devised a disorder policing system targeting the movement of people at all ages during the specific time of the night in the form of curfew among adults and youth. The strategy focused on efforts restricting people in public places to prevent victimization and violation of laws (Grossman & Hoke, 2014). Curfews are usually deemed appropriate or necessary, or at worst required, to avoid and handle public disorder, disruptions, and abuse (Brass, 2006). Not a common practice in the way curfew was implemented, a resolution was proposed declaring town Ordinance No. 9-2014 of Dumingag Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines tided "An Ordinance Imposing Curfew to All Individuals within the Town of Dumingag and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof dated July 22, 2014 of the Sangguniang Bayan of the said town. This curfew policy restricts individuals at all ages from going outside of their residence between 10:00 pm and 04:00 am to address and control common crimes in the locality. Most of the curfew laws, as popularly known, are intended for juveniles rather than both juveniles and adults. Likewise, little is known about its impact and most of the researches about curfew only assessed the contribution of curfew among the youth (Hazen and Bank, 2017; Wilson et al., 2016; Middleman, 2015).

The lack of literature on youth and adult curfew and fewer multidimensional studies on curfew law implementation moved the researchers to conduct a study on curfew implementation. The emphasis of the research was to examine the extent of the implementation of the curfew ordinance and its effectiveness in reducing crime, its impact, the problems encountered in implementation and the suggested solutions on the problems encountered in the town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines.

Hazen and Brank (2017) suggested alternative ways to measure curfew effectiveness to include how the contact was made and the numbers of an arrest made. Nonetheless, this study is different from the standard practice in assessing curfew (e.g., Goldsworthy, 2018; Cooper & Love, 2017; Zahnow and Goldsworthy, 2017; Grossman, & Miller, 2015). Usually, the effectiveness of curfew is assessed based on arrest (McDowall et al., 2000; Kline, 2012), violence (Carr & Doleac, 2018), public health (Grossman, & Miller, 2018; Grossman, 2014), and victimization (Wilson et al., 2016). This study applied a multidimensional approach to assess curfew implementation. Moreover, this involved a comprehensive assessment of topics related to curfew, the extent of implementation, and impact on crime, family, business, and student activities, which are lacking from other studies. However, examining the constitutionality of curfew implementation is not covered in this study.

Conceptual Framework

In this study, the Realist Model by Hope (2017) guided the researchers to lay down procedures in assessing curfew implementation. The model assumes the necessity of knowing the actual implementation of the intervention to gauge the mechanism which influences crime reduction. The model points out information on the execution of intervention (policy) and manner of its implementation (practices) as essential elements to assess the effectiveness of the intervention (outcome), which may affect the crime level. The model is sequenced in three approaches: policy, practices, and outcomes. The policy is a controlled intervention to generate a subsequent oudine of action on crime prevention practice. The mechanism is viewed as crime prevention practices that may configure the output. The output is the cumulative and reciprocal result of the treatment and configuration of the intervention implemented.

With many years of studying community policing, new concepts have emerged for problem-solving strategies (Alpert, Flynn & Piquero, 2001). The researchers were guided by the SARA Model of Eck & Spelman (1987), which involves Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment to determine the issues on curfew hours implementation. This is a systematic, rational approach in problem-solving and identification and consequently, evaluation on outcomes of the responses (Weisburd et al. 2008).

Nonetheless, to answer the complexity of the emerging issue, the need for further development of the approach is necessary. The Enhanced SARA Model of Burton and McGregor (2018) provides the best methods to assess the problems encountered in curfew hours implementation as crime prevention practice to be carried out involving complex issues to explain the safety of the community and policing effectiveness.

In designing the suggested solution to the problems encountered, Burton and McGregor's (2018) SPATIAL Model was adopted as it provides clear and varied steps. The model helps to ensure that the identified problems were structured properly to include resource allocation in addressing issues related to curfew hours implementation, taking into consideration of three areas: strategic, tactical, and operational approaches.

Research Methods and Objectives

The inquiry on curfew hours implementation in Dumingag Zamboanga del Sur was based on the responses gathered from the purposively selected participants using a validated self-designed questionnaire which passed the reliability test with a high alpha value. Six years of recorded crime data of the town taken from the Philippine National Police Municipal Head Quarter was used as data in the study. The descriptive-comparative method was utilized to examine the crime occurrence before and after the curfew implementation. The study employed a questionnaire-checklist with a four-point Likert scale (1-4) in measuring the participants' responses to the variables of the study. Notably, the focus was on the densely populated areas of the town where commercial and business activities are in place. Two months of data gathering was set from September to November 2018. The following were the research objectives:

* To examine the extent of the implementation of curfew hours in the town of Dumingag Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines (policy and practice);

* To examine impact of curfew hours implementation on crime, family, students, and business activity in the town (outcome);

* To examine the crime rate in the town before and after curfew implementation (outcome); and

* To investigate the problems encountered in curfew implementation and the possible solutions (strategic, tactical, and operational approaches).

In measuring the responses of the participants on the extent of implementation of curfew hours, a four-point Likert Scale (1-4) was used.

For interpreting the impact of the implementation of curfew hours in the town, a four-point Likert Scale (1-4) was used.

For interpreting the problems encountered in the implementation of curfew hours, a four-point (1-4) rating scale shown below.

For interpreting the suggested solutions in the implementation of curfew hours, a four-point (1-4) rating scale was used, as shown below.

Validity of the Instrument

The validation process of the questionnaire took place through the assessment of two technical experts in the field of criminal justice and two station commanders of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the town of Mahayag and Molave, Zamboanga del Sur. The revision was done based on the feedback during the validation process.

Reliability Testing

Researchers secured approval from the research committee to gather data for the reliability testing of the questionnaire. A total of 30 participants answered the survey in the pilot testing. The tested alpha on computed coefficient results on the extent of implementation of curfew hours got a value of 0.79, effectiveness of implementation, 0.89; problems encountered in the implementation, 0.78; and for the suggested solutions 0.74. All figures are above the accepted level of 0.70 and were found to be reliable. The questionnaire was finalized based on the result of the reliability test.

Participants Selection Process

The participants were purposively identified as a group and selected randomly as an individual. A total of 206 participants were involved in the study. The recruited participants were derived from different sectoral groups categorized into four as follows;

First, twenty-six (26) police officers who spearheaded the implementation and the imposition of penalties to the violators of curfew at the municipal level. As police officers, they influence crimes by lowering criminal opportunity in the place and among individuals, and discouraging the motivated would-be violators from acting on criminal intent when opportunity allows (Lum and Nagin, 2016). Second, one hundred (100) Barangay Peace Auxiliary Team (BPAT) comprised of community volunteers, who serve as the force multipliers in the implementation of curfew hours ordinance at the community level. Third, thirty (30) teachers from the schools within the densely populated areas in the town. Fourth, 50 residents of the town from densely populated areas. The level of significance of the responses was subjected to a 5% margin of error.

Ethical Consideration

The researchers took measures to observe ethical norms in the conduct of the study based on Resnik (2011), emphasizing the importance of adhering to ethical standards in conducting research. Due to the absence of research ethics review board of J.H. Cerilles State College when this study was done, the approval to conduct the study was secured from the research committee who scrutinized and reviewed the research protocols. Approved request signed by the station commander was also obtained to gather crime statistics in the PNP Municipal Head Quarters of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines. The participants acknowledged their voluntary participation in the study. Only the necessary data were collected to complete the research project and were kept with the utmost confidentiality.

Results and Discussion

The result of the study were presented in four dimensions based on the Realist Model: 1) A descriptive and inferential presentation of the extent of implementation of curfew hours in the town of Dumingag (policy and practice); 2) The descriptive analysis of the impact of curfew implementation on crime, family, students, and business activity in the town (outcome); 3) Descriptive analysis of crime occurrence in the town before and after the curfew implementation; and 4) The descriptive analysis of the problems encountered in curfew implementation and possible solutions (strategic, tactical, and operational approaches).

Extent of Implementation of Curfew Hours (Policy and Practice)

Table 5 shows the overall mean of 3.21 interpreted as "Moderate Extent" which implies that the curfew hours is "Partially Implemented" as assessed by the police officers. The overall mean of 3.05 means that the implementation of curfew hours is "Partially Implemented," as evaluated by the Barangay Peace Action Team (BPAT). The overall mean of 3.03 implies that the residents evaluated the implementation of curfew hours in "Moderate Extent".

Based on the scale in Table 5, it can be gleaned that curfew ordinance in the town is implemented to a moderate extent. It suggests that all the provision of the ordinance was widely enforced as the participants of the study uniformly rated curfew as being partially implemented. Further, this finding implies that there is uniformity in the implementation of curfew across the town. In Brass (2006), the laws and procedures of the curfew are relatively consistent but differ in some ways in execution, all impacting the scope of the limitations put on individuals residing in areas with a curfew. However, in the actual practice, curfew implementation varies significantly in the enforcement.

From Table 5, the data show that if participants will be grouped by sector, their assessment on the extent of curfew implementation differs from one another. However, most of the standard features of curfew gain a very great extent. "Business establishments are required to close before the specified curfew hours" was rated "Very Great Extent" by the Barangay Peace Auxiliary Team (BPAT). Nonetheless, the imposition of penalty on curfew violation and use of appropriate warning signals to warn the public that the curfew has started and ended gained the highest rating among police officers (PNP) interpreted as "Very Great Extent". The finding on the imposition of penalty among violators is corroborated with the study of Cooper and Love (2017), which shows that curfew violations can have qualitative implications.

Additionally, police officers also rated penalizing both parents and children for violating the ordinance as "Very Great Extent". The police and barangay officials handed out warning fliers to youth in public places during curfew hours were rated by the residents as "Very Great Extent". Brass (2006) supports this finding that in curfew, the first step of implementation is announcement.

Furthermore, results show that curfew also encompasses the prohibition of activities related to the movement of people in the community, such as visiting karaoke bars and drinking alcoholic beverages. The study among American college students shows that oppressive drinking practices of college students declined briefly after the prohibition (Vander Ven, 2011). However, curfew only deals with the symptoms of alcoholism, and the underlying cause is not targeted, such as alcohol management (Hudson & Hudson, 2011).

Though the participants uniformly rated other activities implemented as "Moderate Extent" curfew may not been have consistently enforced since they had different assessment of some particular events.

ANOVA reveals that there was a significant difference in the mean rating for the extent of implementation when respondents were grouped according to the sector (BPAT, Teachers, Police Officers, and Town Residents) with F(9.049)> F-crit (2.87), p(0.00)>0.05.

Impact Curfew Hours Implementation in Crime, Family, Students, and Business Activities in the town ofDumingag Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines (Outcome)

Table 7 presents the impact of curfew hours implementation in crime, family, students, and business activity in the town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines. The research shows that curfew has a moderate impact on crime, family, students, and business in the town ofDumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Curfew implementation in the town has shown a moderate impact on crime, family, students, and business activities. Participants rated that curfew provides a safe environment for the people in the town, lowering the risk factors associated with crimes and victimization as influenced by controlling activities and movement of people during the hours of its implementation. As suggested by USAID (n.d.), crime prevention interventions should be evaluated by their effectiveness in reducing the crime associated risk, rather than on the number of recorded crime violations. Therefore, based on the suggested method of USAID, results revealed that curfew is an effective crime prevention intervention to lower the crime risk. The success of preventing crime and violence in real and practical ways is not on fluctuation measures in short duration crime rate statistics but on how the prevention efforts positively affect the risk of crime in the community.

Moreover, findings of this study shows that curfew provided additional authority for the police officers and offers an opportunity to stop and question suspicious youngsters and adults (Adams, 2003; Kline, 2011; Brank & Scott 2012). As mentioned earlier, curfew implementation discourages youth and adults from public places at the time of its enforcement (Hazen and Brank, 2017). In keeping with Cooper & Love (2017), reduced adults' mobility was linked to curfew implementation and its restrictions. Further supported as observed, the result shows that there was a significant reduction in violent and property crimes for youthful offenders resulting from curfew implementation (Kline, 2011). Conversely, according to Adams (2003), some studies indicate that crimes were committed not at the time when the curfew is enforced.

The research also shows that curfew implementation has a moderate impact on the family. The participants confirmed that curfew implementation helps parents to manage the activities of their children and generally contributes to family ties among them. The student has more time spent with their family due to restrictions during the time the curfew was implemented. Additionally, curfew hours provide parents a tool to impart discipline, respect, and rules to their children and make parents feel secured about their children.

On students, curfew implementation and restriction hours for the youth not to stay outside their houses on specific periods provide ample time for students to focus on their studies that result in commitment to school, reporting to school on time, and becoming up to date in submitting course requirements.

Another notable beneficial effect of curfew implementation is it provides a safer business transaction during night time in the town. However, this reduces the number of costumers and results in loss of potential income and profit during night time.

All in all, this implies that curfew is useful and serves its purpose in crime reduction in the town. The curfew ordinance significantly provides a safe environment for the people during its implementation. Crimes reduce considerably in the town as a result of curfew, protecting the possible victims by deterring criminal activities during curfew hours. This finding corroborated the study of Cooper and Love (2017) that juvenile crimes in Northbridge Australia decrease, and the perception of the populace is consistent with the West Australian Police data on the crime committed. The stakeholder noticed growth in public safety in Northbridge. It changes the violent crime arrests, property crime arrests, drug-related arrests, and arrests for public order offenses with statistical significance (Wallace, 2016).

The study also shows that curfew in the town of Dumingag influences youth attitudes and schooling. Parents have more time to manage their children and monitor their activity because of curfew implementation. In this way, parents have an essential task to keep their youngsters out from the streets during curfew implementation. Curfew mirrors fear about unruly youths from urban areas. It is clear from the result of interviews, in Te Kuiti and Paera towns show that curfew promotes parental responsibility (Collins and Kearns, 2001). This result is strengthened by Khne (2011), which he rationalizes alternately the proof that parents play a very significant part within the social control of curfews over and on top of that of law enforcers. If local curfew act as the epicenter in instituting the household roles then it may lead to substantial changes within the behavior of youth. The possible obligation of parental self-implementation of curfew is an important topic for future studies. Additional researches offer a clear picture of parental role and youths' behavior in education and internal controls. Considering that behavioral management of parents to the youngsters and in monitoring their child's activities is undisputedly linked to higher test scores. As it tells, curfew benefits children when more hours are spent at home in their school performance (Adams, 2003).

Additional assertions of Collins & Kearns (2001) explain that curfew strengthens parental obligation, and less-involved parents are forced to be more responsible for the well-being and behavior of their children. The same period saw an interest in holding parents accountable when their child broke a curfew. Such accountability usually falls, and punishments vary with standard options being parents paying fines or participating in community service under the purview of parental responsibility laws (Reynolds, Seydlitz, & Jenkins, 2000; Brank & Scott, 2012).

Parents imposed disciplinary measures on adolescence to be early at home before the curfew implementation (Ruefle & Reynolds, 1995). For some, curfew displays an opportunity to change family involvement (Yeide, 2009). While curfew has gained extensive support amongst politicians, worries about how effective it is had been expressed (Collins & Kearns, 2001). The success of curfews as a measure in preventing crimes gains strong support from stakeholders (Adams, 2003).

Descriptive Analysis of Crime Occurrence Before and After the Implementation of Curfew Hours in the Town (Outcome)

Before the Implementation of curfew hours, out of 178 crimes committed, 35 or 15.38% belongs to murder; 14 or 5.77 %, homicide; 76 or 48.08 %, physical injury; 12 or 15.38%, rape; 9 or 5.06%, robbery; 27 or 11.54%, theft; 3 or 1.6%, carnapping; and 2 or 1.2%, cattle rusding. After the implementation of curfew hours, out of 85 crimes committed, 31 or 36.47% belongs to murder; 7 or 8.24%, homicide; 17 or 20%, physical injury; 5 or 5.885%, rape; 12 or 14.12%, robbery; 10 or 11.76%, theft; 3 or 3.53%, cattle rusding. The result shows that the number of crimes committed before the implementation of curfew hours is higher compared to crimes committed after its implementation. This statistical data implies that curfew may have contributed to this effect on crime reduction. However, this assumption needs further testing and studies since there are other aspects to consider in crime reduction.

Crime Rate Before and After the Implementation of Curfew Hours

The result in Table 8 and Figure 1 shows how curfew effectively suppresses crimes in the town where it was implemented. There was a significant decrease in the crime rate up to 47.75%. This graphical presentation implies that the implementation of curfew hours is one of the effective means of controlling criminality in the town. However, these results significantly differ from previous studies conducted. Guis (2011) suggested to recognize the consequences of curfew on criminal activities it is vital to use the individual level information. Curfews indicate to have significant effects on the criminal behavior of youngsters and give the impression to show effectiveness at reducing youth apprehensions (Kline, 2011).

The proof proposes that curfew was effective at lowering the violent and property crime incidence committed in the town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines. A similar finding established by Kline (2011) shows that the apprehension of adults and youngsters above the curfew age dropped in the time of curfew hours implementation, which means crime committed also declined. Contrary to this finding, the result shows evidence that juvenile curfews were unsuccessful at suppressing crime and victimization (Wilson et al., 2016).

Descriptive Analyses on the Problems Encountered in Curfew Implementation and the Possible Solutions (strategic, tactical, and operational approaches).

Problems Encountered in Curlew Implementation in the Town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines.

Table 9 presents the response of the Barangay Peace Action Team (BPAT) and police officers on the implementation of curfew hours. Problems encountered in curfew implementation in the town of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Region 9, Philippines, obtained the overall mean of 3.01 implies that the problems encountered in the implementation of curfews hours are serious as assessed by the Barangay Peace Action Team (BPAT) participants. Police officer's responses garnered the overall mean of 3.09, which implies that serious problems are encountered in the implementation of curfew hours.

The response of the Barangay Peace Action Team (BPAT) and police officers has shown that implementing curfew pose more significant challenges and problems along the way. The highest-rated problem encountered during the implementation of curfew is the deficiency of funds. This result implies that there is a lack of resources for the implementation of policing (Islam, 2018). It shows that in curfew implementation, serious problems may arise due to the lack of resources and attitude of the people towards the enforcement. Moreover, the challenges and barriers in policing, as discussed by Islam (2018) is the cooperation and administration of the community. Most people do not understand their duties and responsibility as well as their rights, thus becoming barriers to community policing. Social cohesion in societies is becoming more challenging to achieve, and consequently, security and protection is increasingly a real concern among implementers. Thus, there is a significant problem if these individuals do not consider themselves to be full and equal members of their community (Bonnemaison, n.d.). Kline (2011) identified enforcement as a challenge in the implementation. In Bonnemaison (n.d), he points out that safety and security both for the individual and property constitute one of the significant challenges of the developed world and a challenge for all governments. Community needs and capacity are often opposite, and the communities lack the knowledge, skill and resources to mobilize prevention programs. Evidence suggests that police faced significant new challenges, such as antisocial behavior and interactions with mentally ill people (Ransley & Mazerolle, 2009).

The odds of problems to face in curfew implementation is undeniably present. Another evidence shown during the conference of Mayors in the US in 1997 was that 23% of cities re-counted the problems in the curfew implementation (Broadwater & Wenger, 2014), such as lack of materials needed and environmental constraints. These problems pose serious concerns to the authorities concerned in curfew implementation. Cooper and Love (2017) described the issues on the participation of families since there are difficulties in engaging the families in the activities offered, and attendance was very few among families involved.

Suggested Solutions on the Problems Encountered in Curfew Implementation

Table 10 presents the response to the implementation of curfew hours. The highly suggested solutions are to increase public awareness and pohce-community relations with the weighted mean of 3.27. The overall mean of 3.19 implies that the presented solution was recommended to address the problems met in curfew implementation.

"Empower the constituents through volunteerism to participate in the implementation of the curfew ordinance", one of the suggested solutions, is in keeping with the idea of the Australian Institute of Criminology (2012) referring to the risk of becoming involved in crime or being abused as more significant in societies with high levels of social exclusion or a lack of social cohesion. This result shows that when there is participation and support from the community, it increases the chance of effectively curbing crime in the locality. Curfew laws have also gained public approval, in particular citizens of jurisdictions where they are used (Wilson et al., 2016). The results suggest that in curfew and prevention of crime, a supportive community is a necessity. As shown by Hastings (2005) in his study, this partnership brings together stakeholders which can lead to increase efficiency in crime prevention. Moreover, the local government of cities that are actively engaged in collaboration with partners in crime prevention activities have a higher chance of succeeding and becoming more sustainable (USAID, n.d.).

Hence, an increase in public awareness and pokce-community relations is highly suggested among participants. It is noteworthy to recognize the importance of knowledge in crime prevention activities since it is a shared responsibility and educating the public is among the essential methods to prevent crimes. People who know what they should do to reduce the risk of lawbreaking and improve security in the community are crucial in maintaining a safer community. In reminding people, this makes them take action if they know that a problem exists, and they have ideas to address the issues (Shay, 2000).

Conclusion

Typically, curfew restrictions encompass a variety of measures when implemented. However, conventional methods of curfew implementation are still adopted. The implementation only varies with time, execution, consequences of violations, and targeted individuals. The extent of how it was implemented may influence the possible outcomes. The impact of curfew on the town depends on how it was implemented. This means that the extent of curfew implementation is crucial in its measured impact in maintaining a peaceful community, building connectedness within the family, mending students' performance and commitment in schooling, and ensuring safety in business activity. It was seen that the crimes had been reduced when the curfew was implemented in the town. Problems may arise during implementation, which is mainly due to a lack of resources, community awareness and attitudes towards curfew implementation. However, the issues identified, such as lack of resources and community awareness, and perception towards curfew, can be addressed when the community and stakeholders extend their effort to support and cooperate on the curfew implementation.

Acknowledgements

The researchers would like to express sincere gratitude to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Local Government Unit (LGU), J.H Cerilles State College QHCSC), Barangay Peace Action Team (SPAT), and the community for extending support by providing useful information and knowledge about the curfew implementation the Town ofDumingag.

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