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Tag: community policing’

  • ‘We will improve community policing’

    The Nigerian Policing Programme (NPP), a British Council Funded Programme, is aimed at improving community policing, it was learnt on Tuesday.

    At an event held at the Area G Police Command in Ogba yesterday, Lagos State Intervention Officer of NPP, Ivy Basil-Ofili, said the programme is focused on improving community policing.

    She said: “One of the programmes is stakeholders’ police accountability forum whereby CSOs come together to hold police accountable and also improve the community relationship between the police and the community.

    “For today’s event, we are looking at strengthening the gender unit of the police, looking at the family support unit whereby they can interface with the heads of these units and the commands on how they can relate issues of gender to the police.

    Read Also: Cultism, drug abuse: Police to sensitise communities

    “We have representatives of all the DPOs in the area command and they will share their contacts with the community members, talk to them so that when they have issues they can easily call them.

    “Part of the whole sensitisation is for communities to know their rights, especially when it comes to dealing with the police.”

    Founder, Women’s Right and Health project (WRAHP), Bose Ironsi said she is happy “women are beginning to speak out and men are beginning to understand why violence is not the way” but we still have a lot to do.

    “Before now, people didn’t understand the laws or know where to go to, so what we have done over the years is to give them information on where to get result. We have covered a large number of people because we are on television, newspapers and other social media handles where we interact with people and we have contributed significantly to the society in one way or the other,” she noted.

  • ‘Community policing a collective responsibility’

    How best can the Lagos Police Command secure the state? This and more engaged Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal’s attention at a seminar on community policing, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA.

    Stakeholders in the criminal sector converged on Oriade Local Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State for a seminar on community policing.

    It was to explore ways to partner with the Police to combat crime.

    The event was organised by the Lagos State Police Command, Building Lives Around Sound Truth (BLAST) and Crimes Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON).

    The Oriade Stakeholders Security summit had the theme: Community Policing: Know your neighbours.

    Police officers, non-govermental organisations, students of Hope Spring International School, Agboju and Whitefield High School, Maza Maza, Lagos were present.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Edgal Imohimi emphasised the importance of cooperation between Police and the communities in ensuring a crime-free society.

    He stressed the need for every member of the various communities to know his neighbor.

    The CP said: “Community policing is a collective responsibility. The Police is not a spirit, neither are they magicians. The time has come now that you must know your neighbor and your neighbor must know you. We have to partner with ourselves to ensure we live in a safe environment.”

    Imohimi, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Administration Elkana Ayuba, said the police initiated town hall meetings due to the need for effective collaboration.

    He said the aim was to reinforce public trust in the Police, adding that 10 of such meetings have held so far.

    The commissioner, who said offices of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) are open and would protect them, also emphasised the need for those with useful information to give to the Police.

    “When you give information, it would save you, it would save your neighbour,” he said.

    Responding to a question from one of the students, DCP Ayuba blamed parents for involvement of the youths in cybercrimes, saying that they failed to monitor what their children are doing with the hi-tech phones they bought for them.

    He also regretted that most students who bullied their colleagues turned out to be cultists much later.

    “Today, students no longer read. They are always looking for answers on the internet and in the course of this, they get involved in crimes on the internet”, he said and admonished parents and parents and teachers’ associations to devote more time for their wards and monitor what they are doing to prevent them from getting into crime.

    Founder and Executive Director, CRIVIFON Gloria Egbuji, in her paper, lamented the spate of  sexual abuse and domestic violence which she noted have been on the increase.

    “The issue of domestic violence, for instance, is not one sided but something that could be provoked by either of the spouses. Regularly we receive report from either a man or his wife accusing the other of physical threat to his or her life or their children. We have had cases of body injuries inflicted on a spouse by his or her partner”.

    Citing records at CRIVIFON, Egbuji said lamented reports of sexual abuse and assault on minors, teenagers and adult by some members of the society “in despicable manners”, citing incidents of adult males defiling their daughters or daughters of other parents, not minding the age of their victims.

    Egbuji described sexual violence, thuggery, kidnapping, cultism and bulling in schools as threats to community peace and security pointing out that it has become expedient for stakeholders to passionately address the issues and provide workable solutions to help eradicate the spate of such crimes.

    She further described election violence as another threat to community security and expressed regret that in spite of preachments and advocacy for a violent free democratic environment, “some citizens with narrow ambition and selfish interest have continued to look for ways to work against a violent free electoral process”.

    She said every Nigerian has a responsibility to avoid and prevent violence during the coming elections.

    Egbuji commended CP Imohimi for being “an effective, reliable, dependable and committed crime fighter”, noting that through his community policing and safety partnership initiative, he has been able to win the hearts of Lagosians and made them understand that they are relevant stakeholders in the task of crime fighting in the state.

    “Through their partnership and collaboration, many incidents of crime have been nipped in the bud. There are enough records on ground to show how information squealed to the police by credible sources among the civil populace have led to arrest of suspects either prior, during or after committing some heinous crime like cultism, homesexuality, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug peddling.

    “This community policing and safety partnership is the new spirit and I must confess that it is working out effectively under the leadership of CP Imohimi”, she stated.

    Southwest Director, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Lucas Koyejo in his paper, “Fundamental Human Rights, Rule of Law, Community Security” urged the different communities in the state to work with the Police in order to make the society safe.

    Koyejo listed human rights to include ‘rights to life, rights to dignity of every person, right to private and family life, right to personal liberty’ among others. “We must all be ready to assist the Police. If we must have a crime free society, Police need the cooperation of the community. It is only when crime is reduced that you can enjoy fundamental human rights”, he said.

    The NHRC director said parents have the task of preventing their youths from going into crime and admonished  them to do this by monitoring what their wards are doing and the kind of friends they keep.

    Leader of Hausa Community in Oriade LCDA, Alhaji Hassan Dogo said people shy from giving credible information to the police because they are afraid and urged members of the community to see police as their friend and collaborate with them in order to ensure a crime free society.

    Dogo recounted how information provided by people from the Hausa community have assisted the police to prevent crime before they occur in the area. He promised the continued support of his community to the force to make the area safe for living.

    The event also witnessed the presentation of award to officers who have distinguished themselves on the job including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Satellite Town Police Station, Superintendent Ibrahim Audu, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Lamidi Uthman and Ifeanyi Nwodo, Inspector Samuel Agbovo, Inspector Grace Agboje while star award went to CP Imohimi in recognition of his commitment to rid the state of crime.

  • Agenda for state and community policing

    One of the best decisions or expression of interests to have come from the eighth National Assembly is the expressed desire of its leadership to amend the constitution to accommodate state and community policing in Nigeria. The senate leadership’s directive to its Constitutional Review Committee to set in motion the machinery for the amendment of the constitution to accommodate state police is a visionary one that parleys with the yearnings of the generality of the public. For over two decades, there has been several calls by stakeholders especially security experts and public opinion commentators on the need to review the national policing architecture given its archaic policing strategies that are at variance with international best practices; and more importantly, some recent security challenges like the abduction of Epe schools pupils, Chibok and Dapchi school girls, series of kidnapping, and the most horrifying killings in states like Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Nassarawa made the yearning for the establishment of state police to receive the attention of the presidency and the National Assembly. For once, the presidency and the National Assembly seem to be on the same page given the fact that the desire to accommodate state police with emphasis on community policing came just two days after the vice president, Professor Yemi Osibajo, expressed the same view at a public function. This, also, shows that the two arms of government could reason together when the national security seems to be threatened.

    The current national police that was bequeathed to the country by the colonial lords in 1930 after the merger of Lagos Police Force and Royal Niger Constabulary has not only been overstretched and dismembered but has also increasingly suffered obscured neglect by the successive administrations in the country, given its deluded image and pauperized structure. In spite of these shortcomings, the national police agency has fared well within its limitations.

    As the country begins to consider this ought-to-have-been security outfit, there is a strong need to set agenda for the political players and other stakeholders for the country to get it right. It should be well stressed that the ingenuity of state police would not be without some challenges. Even countries like India and Pakistan that practise state and community policing do have some serious challenges. With that mindset, appropriate and research-motivated agenda should be quickly set. First in this regard is the review of the current National Police Service Commission, a replica of which the 36 states should have. Both the National Police Commission and State Police Service Councils should be the policy organs of the agency. The councils should be concerned with both the policies and welfare of the personnel which should be strictly adhered to, to avoid a repeat of withdrawal of police services witnessed in 2002 when a section of the Nigeria Police Force personnel came under the name, National Police Union and declared a one-day strike. A similar occurrence played out recently in Maiduguri, Borno State, by mobile police personnel over unpaid allowances to the tune of seven months. It would therefore be wise as the National Assembly align with the presidency and state Houses of Assembly to establish Police Trust Fund. Through this consolidated fund, states would be in a better position to take care of the welfare of the police and thereby allay one of the apprehensions to the creation of state police. This becomes expedient in that the new state police structures have to be well funded. The present allocation to the states which is often less than what the state could cope with should not be allowed to rub off the frenzy of establishment of state police in which community or neighbourhood policing should be the main thesis. Similarly, amendments to sections 215 and 216 of the 1999 constitution should clearly define, and in clear terms too, the question of ‘Whose Functions?’ in terms of crimes and offending behaviours which should be the exclusive and residual duties of the national police and state police respectively. This is not to say there would not be areas of common policing conflict. Even with the current dispensations (the Nigeria Police and other security agencies), there are inter-agencies conflict.

    One good thing about the proposition of state police is the idea that it would engender community policing. Almost often, state police creation should ordinarily be rooted in the principles of community policing. That is the practice globally. In spite of the provision of community policing in the current national police, the effect has not been felt because personnel are not part of the community and also, the community/police synergy is operationally lacking. The reasons why there are more security concerns in some parts of the country, especially in hotspot states where operations of the current national police are ineffective. This, perhaps, the personnel are too far from the community and are also, not proactive. Affirming this mindset, Robert Peel, the founder of modern policing, contended that police should always recognise that, to secure and maintain the respect and approval of the public, it goes with securing its cooperation and willingness without the deployment of force unless where absolutely necessary. In effect, personnel of state police with community security mindset should maintain, at all times, a relationship with the public without compromising its security. In this, state police personnel will be expected, given their understanding of the localities, to work in twos, understand the culture, psychology and the working geography of the community they police.

    The country and its handlers should not come under the illusion that the creation of state police should stand on ground zero. No police agency does. The reason being that the first principle of security is securing one’s ‘space’; and it is also, all about cognate experiences. It should therefore, be made to take shape from the existing national police with emphasis on reorientation of personnel who may decide to opt for state police service.

    One of the deep-rooted reticent the public holds against the current policing dispensation is the force’s brutality occasioned by many of its personnel. The explained theory to that effect is that the agency carries the word, ‘force’. The proposed state police should therefore, not be made to carry the sobriquet of force if truly it will promote community policing. No police agency in countries practicing state police carries the word, ‘force’. Ours should not be an exception. Police personnel in the real sense, should be emotionally intelligent even under serious policing duties. This would similarly go with the question of identity, in terms of the uniform that each state police should be adorned with. Taking a cue from police organisations in other countries that have landmarked in state police, there are no striking differences in the uniform adorned by the national and state police agencies. Our proposition should not be different. Whether national or state police, personnel’s uniforms should be same with a caveat. The current crest and flag of the federal police should be sustained, while each state’s police agency should have separate crests supper imposed on their preferred colours. This is the practice globally.

    In the last few days, the proposition of state police creation has generated much concerns and apprehensions, chief of which has been the fear of the political class hijacking it. These apprehensions are, themselves, not unfounded given the experiences over the years and currently, too. My response has always been that we have had occasions in which the leadership of the present federal police has been politically compromised. Rather, what the nation should push for is true professionalism which should be rooted in an uncommon integrity. We cannot also continue to compromise the security of the country because of the morbid fear of the political class. Nigeria, for long, ought to have keyed into the global practice as a federal union by embracing the civility which goes with the creation of state police. The country’s internal security has for long been compromised by the unitary police foisted on the country since independence. Now that the idea of subnational police is being promoted by the political class which, ab initio, compromised the idea, all hands must be on deck to get it right.

    In the restructuring of policing architecture in Nigeria, three variables must be effectively coordinated to ensure a seamless policing in which the true spirit of community policing will thrive. These are: the body polity, the police personnel and the public which are referred to as the 3ps. The polity must be conducive for the police personnel to do their work; and the public, should give the police the needed handshake for a concerted security.

     

    • Professor Aremu is of the University of Ibadan.

  • IG pushes for community policing

    The Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has said community policing will ensure low crimes in communities.

    He noted that if the scheme is achieved, it will be a perfect force to stem out hate speeches, insurgency and other societal ills.

    The IG spoke at the Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau State, during the graduation of officers from the Advanced Detective Course.

    He said: “The management of the force has relaunched the Community Policing Scheme with massive campaign on the engagement of critical stakeholders and other non-state actors, to engender public support aimed at achieving very low crime profile in our communities.

    “These moves have led to the establishment of Eminent Persons Forum, strengthening the Police Public Relation committees in all commands, and the regular convocation of security summits in various locations.”

    Idris lamented that despite efforts of the police and other security agencies, insurgency, militancy, kidnapping, robbery, human trafficking and hate speeches continue to constitute a major challenge to national security.

    Commandant of the Police Staff College AIG Dorothy Gimba said the college the graduating officers were equipped with the knowledge to combat crime, especially farmers/herdsmen conflict, and proliferation of small and light weapons.

  • Making sense of community policing

    One of the distinctive features of governance in the 21st century is the progressive weakening of the all-powerful-state and the rise of a myriad of non-state actors – corporations, regional organizations, personalities, alliances, international institutions and transnational networks. In 2016, the 10 biggest corporations globally made more money than 180 countries in a list that includes Ireland, Indonesia, Greece and South Africa. The outsourcing by governments across the world of punishment, detention and state violence is becoming widely popular; a 2017 UK Guardian newspaper report states that at least half the world’s population live in countries where there are more private security workers than public police officers. The concept of governance and government has changed radically; Nigeria will not be an exception to this trend, police and policing is now the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.

    The answer to the question- what is government and who governs – has no simple answer again and this has great implications on security governance, especially police and policing in Nigeria. The police are the most visible symbol of state power and one of the primary institutions of social control in Nigeria; and with a size of over 300,000 personnel (305,000 or 370,000 depending on who you ask), no agency or department of government in Nigeria can rival its spread and size.

    The Nigeria Police is the sole policing agency throughout the diverse Nigerian state. The police in Nigeria operate a centralized command and control structure in which the Inspector-General of Police, an appointee of the president determines both policy and operational matters. Since the discontinuance of dual policing system in 1966, successive Nigerian constitutions have prohibited the establishment of local police authorities. I ask in light of contemporary realities- what really is a local police authority?

    There is the near unanimous conclusion among Nigerians on the failure of the current centralized model of policing and the poor performance of the Nigeria Police, with multiple studies designating the force as the most corrupt and inefficient public entity in Nigeria. So much that ubiquitous checkpoints manned by armed policemen in different shades of black, extracting bribes and ostensibly demanding vehicle registration documents is symbolic of Nigeria as windmills are emblematic of the Netherlands.

    The economic and social consequences of the failure of our national policing policy are enormous. More than 2.5 million Nigerian citizens are displaced internally because of conflict and insecurity; Niger Delta militants destroyed more 1,447 pipelines in 2016,  impairing the implementation of the 2016 budget and costing Nigeria at least N1.4 trillion; ongoing conflict between farmers and herdsmen across Nigeria is costing at least $14 billion in potential revenues annually; the North-east Recovery and Peace Building Assessment (RPBA) team has put the cost of rebuilding destroyed infrastructure in the region blighted by Boko Haram insurgency at $9 billion; and nothing summarizes Nigeria’s security challenges than the fact that Boko Haram insurgency has claimed more civilian lives than ISIS has done.  One deducible fact from this grim statistics is that Nigeria will not achieve sustainable economic development except it fixes the problems with her police force and her concept of policing.

    Despite the constitutional prohibition of the establishment of local policing outfits, community based informal policing groups and networks are present across Nigeria and are an integral part of the security landscape; these seemingly constitutionally prohibited local policing authorities are responsible for providing security services in Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces. A number of these community based policing outfits collaborate with the Nigeria Police, which did launch a Community Policing Policy Framework in 2004.  Currently, community based police groups/networks in Nigeria can be subsumed into four broad categorizations, viz- structured national community policing networks, this group is dominated by the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, which is represented across all local governments in Nigeria. Secondly, there are ethnic based platforms that also operate as policing outfits, the Odua People’s Congress readily comes to mind. There are also state government financed community policing outfits that are paradoxically established by state laws, in spite of seeming constitutional prohibition of such and finally the indeterminate and loosely structured community organized and funded policing services.

    These community policing outfits are a response to the Nigerian state’s weakened capacity to protect life and property on one hand, and the continuous increase in criminal activities with its attendant burden on communities on the other. Community members resorting to establishing informal policing structures is an indictment of the security apparatus in Nigeria. Now that there is renewed vigour in the polity on integrating community policing and informal policing networks into the formal security system, there is the need to coherently address five critical issues that might determine the effectiveness of the policy thrust.

    The first is the question of the ownership of the Nigeria Police Force. Who is the owner of this legitimate singular police force – the national government or the whole federation? The answer to the question has implications on the relationship between community policing networks in Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force. The constitution places the force under the overall command of the IGP, who is an appointee of the president. In the proposed community policing framework, who will own existing community based informal policing structures and what would be the relationship between the heads of these community based informal policing outfits and the IGP?

    Secondly, there is the need to coherently define the concept of ‘community policing’ within Nigeria’s peculiar socio-political environment. Community policing as one of the latest buzzwords in law enforcement across the world, often times have varied definitions depending on context and state.  Therefore, the managers of Nigeria’s security architecture must communicate lucidly what the concept of community policing would be in Nigeria. Would it signify in the Nigerian context, a new crime fighting tactics? Or would it represent an overarching philosophy guiding the entire policing outlook? Or is it just going to be the newest slogan pressed into service in Nigeria’s long line of crime fighting catchphrases- operation fire-for-fire, operation sweep, operation flush, anti-crime patrol, dancing pythons and grinning crocodiles among others? Or is it an exercise to launder the very sordid reputation of the Nigeria Police Force by creating platforms of engagement between communities and the force?

    Thirdly, what would be the strategic and structural outlook of the community policing framework and informal policy networks? Will it be a continuation of the community policing policy that was launched by the government in 2004 or will it create a new relationship framework between the Nigeria Police and informal policing platforms? Are current community-based policing structures going to be integrated even if loosely into existing the Nigeria Police structures?  Considering Nigeria’s diversity and the multitude of informal policing networks and platforms that currently exist in Nigeria, how are they going to be grouped for regulation, monitoring and management?  Putting constitutional prohibition in perspective- what is the definition of local police authorities? Are all existing state financed neighbourhood watch groups, traffic enforcement agencies, the vigilante groups outside the operation of this prohibition?

    Also, who are the critical stakeholders in the new community policing framework? What will be the role of other government agencies, community members and community based platforms and associations, not for profit organizations, private businesses, the media, traditional institutions, religious platforms in this new overlapping system? What will be the nature of the collaborative partnerships between the police, communities and organizations that the police serve and how can trust in the police be increased?

    Finally, to effectively undertake community policing in Nigeria, there is a need for extensive reform of the Nigeria Police Force structures and processes and how much of this can be accommodated within the political environment? For the Nigeria Police to effectively deliver on community policing, its organizational structure, human capacity and operational assets and protocol must be realigned to support community partnerships.

     

    • Osasona is of the Centre for Public Policy Alternatives, Lagos.
  • Plan on community policing to be unveiled, says Osinbajo

    Plan on community policing to be unveiled, says Osinbajo

    •Ex-IG Arase’s book launched in Abuja

    THE Federal Government willsoon unveil policy for establishment of community policing, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

    The policy,he said, would help address the issue of manpower in the force and security challenges.

    To attain the United Nations one policeman to 100 citizens, it was revealed that Nigeria needs 1.8million policemen.

    Osinbajo spoke yesterday in Abuja at the launch of a book: “Law on Prevention and Detection of Crimes by the Police in Nigeria”, authored by former Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase.

    The Acting President, who was represented by the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, said: “There is no way we can continue with the way we are policing now and the Federal Government is looking carefully at the issue of community policing and very soon, we would come out with a policy on that.

    “We have to look at other parts of the world when we are doing it. Sitting down in Abuja by an IG and policing the remote parts of the country and being in charge of the welfare of all the policemen across length and breadth of the country doesn’t seem to be working.

    “We all have to agree to look at this. There are concerns and challenges and they will be addressed. In the 80s, whenever you talk about private television and radio, everybody gets jittery. But some people took the bull by the horn and we are getting the best for that decision today. We have to take our fears away.”

    He urged the elite to encourage their children to join the Force.

    “If we want a very good, active and efficient policing, we should also try as elites to encourage our children to join the Police. If we want effective policing and believe that they are actually protecting us, we should also spare our offspring to join the police and do a good job.”

    He revealed that some retired senior police officers would be engaged for proper implementation of the policy.

    “As for the retired IGs and police officers, you may have a role to play very soon for us to depart from this old way of policing our country. It does not seem like it can work and it is not working,” Osinbajo said.

    The chairman of the occasion, former Cross Rivers State Governor Donald  Duke while lending voice to the establishment of state policing, noted that the decentralisation of policing will enhance prevention of crime, allow better monitoring and intelligence gathering.

    Duke said Nigeria needs 1.8million policemen for proper policing.

    He also suggested that entry level into the Force be reviewed.

    Arase said the law enforcement role of the police could only be attained if officers have proper knowledge of what law enforcement entails.

    He said 21st Century Policing architecture of Nigeria ought to deviate from the state of affairs and evolve into a knowledge-driven system that is befitting of the country’s democratic values.

     

  • FG to set up policy for community policing

    FG to set up policy for community policing

    …Nigeria needs 1.8million policemen

     

    The Federal Government has disclosed its intention to implement policy for the establishment of community policing.

    The policy which would be introduced soon would help address the issue of manpower in the Force and also address security challenges.

    To attain the United Nations one policemen to 100 citizens, it was also disclosed that Nigeria needs 1.8 million personnel of the Force.

    The Ag. President, Yemi Osinbajo disclosed the need for the establishment of Community policing in Abuja yesterday during the launch of a book, “Law on Prevention and Detection of Crimes by the Police in Nigeria” authored by the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

    The Ag. President who was represented by the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu said: “There is no way we can continue with the way we are policing now and the federal government is looking carefully at the issue of community policing and very soon, we would come out with a policy on that.

    “We have to look at other parts of the world when we are doing it, sitting down in Abuja by an IG and policing the remote parts of the country and being in charge of the welfare of all the policemen across length and breadth of the country doesn’t seem to be working.

    “We all have to agree to look at this. There are concerns and challenges and they will be addressed. In the 80s, whenever you talk about private television and radio, everybody gets jittery but some people took the bull by the horn and we are getting the best for that decision today. We have to take our fears away.”

    The federal government also tasked elites to encourage their children to join the Force.

    “If we want a very good, active and efficient policing, we should also try as elites to encourage our children to join the Nigeria Police Force. If we want effective policing and believe that they are actually protecting us, we should also spare our offspring to join the police and do a good job.”

    He also revealed that some retired senior police officers would be engaged for proper implementation of the policy across the country.

    “As for the retired IGs and police officers, you may have a role to play very soon for us to depart from this old way of policing our country. It does not seem like it can work and it is not working”.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke while lending voice to the establishment of state policing noted that the decentralization of policing is the greatest prevention to crime and allows for better monitoring and intelligence gathering.

    Duke also hinted that Nigeria needs 1.8million policemen for proper policing.

    He said: “I must say that I disagree with the author’s position that state policing, though theoretically ideal will be abused and that states indeed are too financially handicapped from embarking on this. I posit instead that we must always strive for the ideal without losing sight of reality, this reality being that we are severely under policed.

    “Our population may be approaching 200 million by 2020. The United Nations ideal statistics for police civil populace ratio is 1/100. In other words, at 180 million persons, we are in need of a 1.8 million police force.

    “It is the Federal Government that is financially handicapped in this regard to accommodate this number. The States may not have the financial buoyancy to so attain, but thinking outside the box, we may attempt to bring the numbers within reason.

    He further said: “The fear of abuse can be mitigated by an oversight responsibility or authority by the Commissioner of police in the State or a State Police regulatory commission. A further realignment of the zones to create for more zones and broaden the base 1 of the force is needed, as the narrowing at the service top has become inimical to career growth and led to disenchantment.

    “We must quickly attain at least 500,000 federal police from the current 350,000 or thereabout and about the same number at the State level. The decentralization of policing and presence is the greatest deterrent to crime and allows for better monitoring and intelligence gathering”.

    He also suggested that entry level into the Force be reviewed.

    According to him: “We ought to review entry levels into the force from OND to HND and apply aptitude tests to qualify for entry and promotions, and the manpower abounds. Constant training and retraining is a sine qua non in keeping up with the dynamics of a 21st century cyber technical world”.

    Speaking also, the author of the book, Arase said the law enforcement role of the police can only be attained if officers have proper knowledge of what law enforcement entails.

    He said 21st Century Policing architecture of Nigeria ought to deviate from the state of affairs and evolve into a knowledge-driven system that is befitting of our democratic values.

    On the inadequate number of personnel to police the nation and establishment of community policing, he said: “Even if we have required number of policemen in Nigeria, we have to ask what the quality of the men are. There must be quality control in the people we are bringing. We must bring officers who are knowledgeable enough and confident to carry out their duties.

    “In my book, I noted that issues like terrorism, cross border crimes and all are not issues that can be dealt with locally. While it is good that we talk about community policing, the state police can take care of some municipal laws. When it comes to issues of terrorism, cybercrime, you need a highly dedicated central body to take care of it.

    “My own take on state policing is that it is going to come but we have to be careful how we implement it. We are talking about proliferation of firearms, how will they get it? Will states be allowed to purchase firearms indiscriminately? The problem we are trying to solve might give birth to another monster, so we have to think it through and it has to be gradual and not something we rush into.”

     

     

  • Group supports dig on community policing

    Group supports dig on community policing

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC) has commended Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South West, DIG Folusho Adebanjo, on his position that community policing should be embraced as a strategy for building ties and working closely with members of the community to deter and detect crime in the country.

    DIG Adebanjo, while speaking at a recent security stakeholders’ conference held in Lagos, noted that modern policing best practices recognized the need for a paradigm shift away from central control to community policing, stressing that communities must not be alienated from the police

    In his remark at a one-day execo- members’ meeting of the PAC held in Lagos, the Director General, Dr. Martins John-Oni, stated that the PAC has always been an advocate of community policing which has been its major operational style over the years in its relationship with the general public while gathering information and intelligence for security agencies for their operations.

    Dr. Oni buttressed the position of the DIG that the police should always work in collaboration with other stakeholders by giving them more access to share vital information and intelligence with them that could assist in crime control and combating.

    DIG Adebanjo had also said at the conference that the police would be more committed to international policing best practices which entail that there should be open channels of feedback from the communities to the police, while the police should forge a good working relationship with other security outfits which are critical stakeholders.

  • Community policing will help in reducing crime – Ambode

    Community policing will help in reducing crime – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday said that the fight against crime and all forms of criminality would be better enhanced if efforts are geared towards embracing community policing to complement the police and other law enforcement agencies.

    Governor Ambode, who stated this at the swearing-in ceremony of the Chairman and members of the Board of the State’s Neighbourhood Safety Corp Agency, said community policing was needed to assist law enforcement agencies which, according to him, are already over stretched judging by the enormous task of securing the country.

    Speaking at the ceremony held at Lagos House in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said right from the onset, the major thrust of his administration has always been the security of lives and properties of Lagosians, adding that the Neighborhood Agency, which was an initiative aimed at safe guarding the communities through community policing, was another testimony of the commitment of the State Government to the safety of lives and properties and a demonstration of a promise kept to all citizens.

    The Governor recalled the provision of security at the State level with the massive provision of equipment such as patrol vehicles, motor bikes, boats and helicopter on several occasions to police and other security agencies, saying that such had aided law enforcement outfits in the State in effectively discharging their duties.

    “You will agree with me that the Police and indeed all other security forces within the State and even the country at large are quite stretched, and some form of “community” or “local policing” is required to boost and support the great job the Nigeria Police is presently doing.

    “The creation of this Agency marks another step towards ensuring the protection of lives and properties at the grass root level. Corp members recruited by the Agency are meant to interact with the people at the communities. It is expected that with the visible presence of the Corp members within a particular community, the likelihood of crime will be drastically reduced,” the Governor said.

    He added that the Agency, which replaced the Neighbourhood Watch, has the responsibility of assisting the Police, and its mode of operation will essentially be in intelligence gathering, protection of lives and properties, maintaining law and Order amongst others.

    The Governor also said the Agency has been empowered pursuant to its enabling law, to recruit eligible persons as Corp members in all Local Government Areas of the State.

    He, however, emphasized that the Agency was not meant to compete, but to complement the efforts of the Police Force, adding that the State Government, through the Board, would develop clear policies and strategies for the implementation of the law.

    While reiterating the determination of his administration to commit resources to ensure success of the objectives of the Agency, the Governor said its realization would make Lagos a place where residents and all intending foreign and local investors can do business in safety and comfort.

    He also charged members of the newly inaugurated board to consider their appointments as call to duty, adding that the task making Lagos great and taking it to greater heights was that of all.

    Besides, the Governor commended the foresight, efforts and industry of the Speaker and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for initiating the bill that culminated in the enactment of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency Law 2016, saying their intellectualism in sponsoring the bill and the proactiveness in considering the passage of the law was admirable.

    Members of the Board are Mr. Israel Ajao (Chairman), Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, SP Yinka Egbeyemi, Mr. Razaq Balogun, Chief Tunde Aboyade, Mr. Ishola Laguda, Mrs Kofoworola Adegboye, Mr. Dengel Anifowoshe, Mrs. Ronke Ogabi, CSP Suleiman Lewi, Mr. O. Eziana and Mr Adegboyega Bajulaiye who will serve as Executive Secretary.

    Responding, Ajao who was a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Ogun States and DIG in charge of Criminal Investigation, said he had no doubt as to the passion and commitment of Governor Ambode to safety and security, adding that members of the Agency would hit the ground running towards the set objectives.

    He said considering the complexities of Lagos being home to Nigerians and foreigners from all works of life, the Agency would contribute its quota towards realization of the objectives of making Lagos a safe place for residents and investors.

    The event was graced by the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs Idiat OIuranti Adebule; Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun and other principal officers of the House; members of the State Executive Council, party chieftains, among others.

  • PSC: 10,000 police recruits for community policing

    PSC: 10,000 police recruits for community policing

    THE proposed 10,000 personnel to be recruited into the police will form the foundation for the beginning of community policing.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs Abu Ibrahim said this yesterday.

    He said this while addressing reporters on the lifting of suspension of recruitment of the 10,000 personnel into the police.

    He explained that nine personnel would be recruited per local government.

    Those recruited, he said, would be used to form a unit for community policing in all 774 local governments.

    The senator noted that it was expected that in the next three years, 30 police personnel would have been recruited per local government for the community policing initiative.

    The recruitment was put on hold following disagreement between the Senate and the Police Service Commission (PSC) on the modus operandi for the recruitment.

    The upper chamber had, in a letter few weeks ago, requested the PSC to suspend the exercise for alleged irregularity in the criteria adopted.

    Findings showed that the Senate suggested that the recruitment should be carried on local government basis.

    The PSC, on the other hand, wanted the exercise to be conducted on the basis of equality of states.

    Ibrahim told reporters yesterday that the disagreement had been resolved.

    He said: “We have resolved the issue and the recruitment would be done on local government basis. Soon, the exercise will resume.”