The kogi state police commissioner, CP Naziru Kankarofi has reasures the public of its commitment to upgrade services that ensure adequate protection and safety with human face in line of duty.
This is just as the stakeholders emphasized the need to correct identified lapses in the conduct of police officers while dealing with the people to reinforce people’s confidence in the slogan “police is your friend”
This was the aggregation of opinions at the police Customers service week with the theme: let a Mile, held on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The participants drawn from the Nigeria Bar Association, Community leaders, Religious bodies, Non Governmental Organizations, Women Groups, the Media and selected police formation and departments harped on the essentials of having a 21st century police that is proactive, responsive that operates with international best practices.
The commissioner who noted that need for the police to consider the members of the public as customers – who are always the king- should be uppermost in their line of duty despite potential challenges in their line of duties.
He said, the seminar wouldn’t have come a better time than now , that the police is being mirrored by the public demanding for better services, adding that complaints shall be treated with immediate dispatch
He said with digital technology, nothing could be said to be done in secret , putting police conduct in front burner in National discourse.
He said, if the police is to be taking seriously by the public, they need to operate within ethical bounds , placing empathy, diligence and customer centric in nature warning that without the people there wouldn’t be police force.
He said the era of dereliction of duty has gone for good insisting that the police must consider the people as customers who should be treated with decorum until the law takes its course.
The CP said on this premise, the leadership of the police decided to establish Servicom to promote service delivery, warning officers not to use their calling to humiliate , harass and pervert the course of Justice on whatever considerations.
He assured the public that the suggestions emanating from the parley will be taking seriously, in order to block leakages and open up a new chapter in the mutual relationship between the force and the people it serves
Participants where unanimous against police brutality, extortion and other unethical practices and called for reforms that will make personnel reliable, responsive, fair , equity and justice , the fulcrum of the modern day policing.
They argued that the actions and behaviours of police officers either at the roadblocks and in the stations leaves much to be desired , often bringing them in collision with people they are supposed to serve.
They complained of extortion, brutality, disclosure of information to suspects and aiding and abetting criminals to perpetuate crimes within their jurisdiction.
The participants, however, acknowledged the effort of the present commissioner, Naziru Kankarofi that has reduced crime and criminality in the state, stressing that under his watch , the police misconduct has also reduced to bearest minimum.
They called on the Authorities to increase budgetary allocation to the police taken cognizance of the welfare and well-being of personnel to enable them perform their duties optimally.
