Policy On Community Policing Out Soon – FG

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this Tuesday, during the launch of a book ‘Law on Prevention and Detection of Crimes by the Police in Nigeria’ in Abuja.

The book was authored by Slomon Arase, a former Inspector-General of Police.

The Acting President who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, conceded that it was no longer efficient to police the various remote parts of the country from Abuja.

“There is no way we can continue with the way we are going with policing now.

“For us to continue this old way of policing our country, I don’t think it can work and it is not working. We have to look at other parts of the world, how they are doing it,” the Acting President said.

He also allayed fears about the decentralisation of the Police Force which may be inevitable with the planned community policing, assuring that there would be no need for such.

Other guests at the occasion, including Chairman of the occasion, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, also spoke in favour of state police.

Donald Duke pointedly disagreed with the author’s position that state policing may be abused by states.

“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.

“The decentralisation of policing and presence is the greatest deterrent to crime and allows for better monitoring and intelligence gathering,” the former governor said.

Meanwhile, the author pledged to use proceeds from the book launch and sells to support children of the rank and files and officers of the Nigeria Police Force.