Anambra CP lists conditions for effective community policing
CP Echeng
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, yesterday, called for collaboration between the police and the community where they are serving, for effective policing.
Echeng made the recommendation in a keynote he presented at the Anambra State Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum (PSPF) and awards ceremony, in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), in Awka, Anambra State capital.
He said part of the requirements for community engagement is building trust, stressing that a community will willingly engage with the Police when there is trust between both parties.
According to him, the police must actively cultivate the trust of the community and refrain from any act that endangers that trust.
“Confidence, once broken will be difficult to regain. Communities too must endeavour not to abuse this trust. When individuals give false information aimed at achieving selfish objectives, it erodes mutual trust.”
Adding that RULAAC as an advocacy centre has proven that it understands the needs of modern societies for Rule of Law and Accountability, the CP assured that the police as a public institution will continue to make itself accountable in the administration of Criminal Justice.
In his remark, the Anambra State Coordinator PSPF, Prince Chris Azor, said the forum aims to address the deficit in monitoring capacity within communities and to fill the gap in citizens’ awareness of the Anambra State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2010.
He also said the forum was established to serve as a mechanism for holding NPF personnel to account for rights violations while growing skills and awareness to ensure the prevention and reduction of such violations.
In his speech, Executive Director. RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, lamented that the entire Southeast zone has been threatened by serious insecurity in recent times, which calls for attention by people and police in the area.
While commending the efforts of security agencies in Anambra State, Nwanguma, regretted that the security operatives are themselves also targets and victims of Insecurity.
Acting Inspector General of Police (AIG) John Abang, received an award for promoting police-citizens engagement and professional standards; CSP Haruna Abubakar was awarded for effective public relations and community engagement and CSP Rabiu Garba got acknowledged for effective community engagement and professional service.
