Security Summit: Towards improving policing, public relationship

The first Biannual Special Training and Capacity Development Seminar, organised by Police Command, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos State, is one heck of a training, which selected police participants wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

The three day training programme, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was spearheaded by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr.  Kayode Aderanti and his lieutenants at Zone II, Lagos and Ogun states. The training kicked off on March 2, and ended on March 4, 2017.

The training was the first of its kind to be held. It didn’t come into play by accident. It was through inspiration from the inaugural agenda set by Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Ibrahim Idris on assumption of office.

Idris, in his inaugural speech on June 22,  2016, identified capacity building within the force as one of his top priorities.

The trainees, dignitaries and senior policemen agreed that it was the best packaged training they had ever seen in a very long time.

Some of the resource persons, versed in their fields, were invited from overseas. The lead resource person is Dr. Charles Omole of Prodel Global Services.

Due to the expert and professional delivery by the facilitators, many participants described the training as a crash course, wishing loudly it could have been given more weeks, than days.

The training witnessed the attendance of former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and former IGP, Mr. Musiliu Smith. The present IGP, Idris, was also present. Idris said he wouldn’t have missed it for anything in the world.

Obasanjo, who left an event at Abeokuta involving UNESCO, 50 Universities and 30 Secondary Schools, to attend the police training, said there was no substitute for training.

He further said: “When I heard that the police would be embarking on this, I decided to come for a few minutes and encourage this new training scheme. Every human institution needs constant appraisal, regeneration of themselves and training. Police, by the nature of their job, must be aware and be in touch with new developments in policing, responsibilities and be up-to-date with happenings in other parts of the world.”

He continued: “I hope it is out to be sustained because a training of three years ago in a continually changing world today is outdated.”

Aderanti said: “It is no longer news that the world today is changing. If you don’t acquaint yourself with up-to-date training today, you will be irrelevant. It is necessary for security agencies to be on top of their beats because of the changing faces of crime. We, as security agents, need to be a step ahead and this can only be achieved with training. In line with the directive of the IGP for democratic policing, I took it upon myself to put up a platform like this. I’m sure that at the end, participants will gain what they will put into their practice so that Nigerians will appreciate us whenever they have an encounter with the Nigeria Police.’’

Aderanti explained: “The trainees were picked randomly from among the general duty officers. Those that were not picked now, will be given priority in the next edition. Funding for the training came from corporate bodies and public spirited individuals who took it as part of their social responsibilities. My hope and aspiration is that a better improved police force will emerge. The training will be held at regular intervals. For this present one, 110 policemen and women participated.

“Those that participated will share all they learnt with their colleagues when they get back to their offices. And subsequent trainings will focus on those that did not participate in this training. It will be rotational until it goes round and a new cycle begins.”

Idris, who declared the training open, said: “We need to re-enforce our personnel to meet the yearnings of the people. This process of actualising our core values has just been given a quantum leap with this training. This is a laudable programme, which will go a long way in improving the Nigeria Police. It is a matter of time before the Nigeria Police will not only be celebrated at home but overseas.’’

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Daniel Iyammah, in charge of Training and Development, Lagos State Police Command, said: “The training is not just a mere talking centre for the junior, senior officers. We have learnt different things, because no knowledge is wasted. Whatever we acquired at the seminar, would go a long away in helping in the discharge of our duties.”

Iyammah said that through the training, junior officers would change their perception about the way they relate with members of the public.

Iyammah added: “We were taught about intelligence led policing, ethics and professional conducts in the police. We were also taught about Improved Police Public Relationships; all these things are going to be useful to us all, in the sense that police job is a profession that requires constant training.”

Iyammah said that the negative perception of the police would soon be corrected, “because if police are good on their side, members of the public will also feel that goodness in them.”

Mrs. Patricia Amadin, a Superintendent of Police (SP), attached to Anti- Economic Crime Section of Zonal State Criminal Investigative Department, Zone II, said the training was comprehensive and important to the growth of police personnel.

She said: “I have been personally challenged to realize that world standard and ethical policing have been elevated, so that Nigeria Police Force would not be left behind. I have learnt that I should apply best world practices in policing and investigation. We have been told not to force information out of suspects.”

She continued: “We were also taught how to be civil in our approach. Once we leave here, we are expected to teach our teams what we learnt here, in order to bring out the best in them and in how they discharge their duties. We can do better in our service delivery, in the face of the public.”

An officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “Initially, when I was nominated to participate in the training, I declined because I thought it wouldn’t bring money into my pocket. But when I got to the seminar, what I learnt was beyond money. I was taught about the ethics of the police profession. Our perception of the public should also change; we should not make arbitrarily arrest and torture in order to get information from suspects. I’m excited for being part of the seminar. I appeal to the AIG and the IGP to involve the rank and file in the subsequent training, because they are always in the field. They are the ones that mostly relate with members of the public.”

Aderanti said that due to the high visibility of police officers and interaction with the public on a constant basis, police officers must practice situational awareness consistently throughout the day.

He noted: “This mindset underscores the need for routine, updated training to ensure adequate investigative techniques, officer safety and efficiency. Law enforcement personnel have a responsibility to ensure they are up-to-date on modern day training, formal education, and become knowledgeable in tactics used by the criminal elements and how best to thwart it. Training and education is more than just sitting in a classroom and earning a certificate. It is also about applying newfound knowledge and maintaining proficiency.”

Aderanti explained that it took a great deal of thought and consideration, as to what would be the most effective topics, given the fact that it was the first of its kind in the zone.

He believed that the need for current effective training of the force was all pervasive. He noted that there was also the added fact that the training had to be inspired from a Nigeria-Centric focused view so that, “we achieve meaningful milestones in a manageable and sustainable way based on our existing needs and difficulties.”

He said that this mind-set therefore removed any chance of illusions from police as viable force.

“We have a lot to do, a lot to achieve and a real desire to see this impact within Zone 2 of the NPF and the wider community at large,” said Aderanti.

The training focused on Intelligence Lead Policing (ILP), which is a business process for systematically collecting, analysing, and utilising intelligence to guide law enforcement operational and tactical decisions. It aids law enforcement in identifying, examining, and formulating preventative, protective and responsive operations to specific targets, threats, and problems.

Another subject is Ethics and Professional Conduct in Policing’ this covers issues of ethics, equity, the law, discretion, professional conduct and policing duties within the wider community.

The training emphasized that ethical behaviour should be at the forefront of every officer’s mind in the conduct of their duties.

Improving Police Public Relationships attempts to tackle and build a bridge between the NPF and the wider public, communicating clearly and openly with the Nigerian people. The training, also aimed to strengthen the police in the use of social media and modern technology to better engage with the public.