Stakeholders unveil strategies for peaceful Police, public relations 

To establish stronger trust-based relationships between the Police and members of the public, stakeholders have called for enhanced trust-building, collaboration, transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption measures in police operations.

They also urged the Police to improve cultural awareness and sensitivity guided by policy standards and community leaders, and localise police presence while putting in place a comprehensive anti-corruption framework supported by policies, CSOs, and community oversight.

The stakeholders made the call at a workshop organised by the Initiative of Change in Partnership with Police Community Relations Committee, and Justice Development and Peace Centre (JDPC) Lagos, with the support of the Africa Bridge Initiative.

Speaking at the workshop tagged: “Community Policing: Exploring Strategies for Peaceful Co-existence between the Police and the Policed for a safer society”, at the Digital Bridge Institute, Lagos State, Director, Lagos State Justice Development and Peace Centre, Rev. Fr. Raymond Anoliefo, emphasised the critical role of trust, mutual respect and shared responsibility in building harmonious relationships.

Anoliefo, who was the keynote speaker, highlighted how both the police and the community members share a collective interest in promoting safety, security and stability in the communities.

He stressed the creation of accountability mechanisms and that both the police and the policed should see themselves as allies and not adversaries.

Guest speaker, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr Kamarudeen Adebayo, approached peaceful coexistence between the police and the community from a legal perspective, emphasising citizen rights, the rule of law and accountability within law enforcement.

Adebayo, a lawyer, called for the establishment of community policing committees, regular training of police officers on community policing and the culture of the local community where they serve.

He also seeks adoption of foreign and international best practices in community policing.

Programme coordinator and General Secretary, Initiative of Change, Abiodun Owoseni, explained that the project of trust building was to shine light on the power of trust and its depth in improving interpersonal relationships.

The Police I Care initiative, a localised version of the global initiative, was not just about caring for the police but in reality, caring for self.

He said: “People need to appreciate the fact that they are who their police are. The police do not exist in isolation of the spirits and the attitude of the people they serve, communication is key.

“If you do not know that the police are hurting, you might not know that they are also going through some trauma situation that could have led to some erratic and unfriendly behaviour.

“The police need to know the same thing about the people. So we have had situations where people have expressed hate and dislike for the police based on information that they did not even know the source of.

“So, we need to use platforms like this to discuss with both Nigerians and the police.”

Owoseni said such workshops are to rejig the police’s orientation about the people they serve.

“So, the intent is basically to create a paradigm shift. And appreciating the fact that until the community takes that step to knowing each other and investing in trust, nothing will change,” he said.

Participants at the event include members of the Nigerian Police, Lagos Neighbourhood, Police Community Relations Committee, Justice Development and Peace Centre, Africa Bridge Initiative, National Orientation Agency and Initiative of Change Nigeria.