Ensure confidentiality, human relations to rebrand Nigeria Police-Awofadeji tells PPROs
Samuel Luka, Bauchi
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, (NUJ) Bauchi, Mr Segun Awofadeji has admonished all Police Public Relations officers (PPROs) working under various police headquarters, divisions and stations in the country to imbibe good human relations, and allow members of the public to provide information to them under confidentiality and protection that could help in crime control and to also make good use of the media in order to keep people abreast with the activities of police.
Mr Segun Awofadeji gave this advice yesterday while presenting a paper titled’ Effective Communication Practices as a prerequisite for Successful Policing’ at the opening ceremony of a two day training workshop organized by CORART Ventures Limited to officers and men of police public relations and human rights departments drawn from the north eastern part of the country with the theme: ‘Policing in a post-insurgency era’ held at Larema Hotels and Suites, Bauchi.
Awofadeji who pointed out that police spokespersons have pivotal roles to play in re-branding of the Nigerian police and restoring people’s confidence on the force urged police image makers to make good utilization of both print and electronic media to disseminate information on their activities, operations and warnings of potential crimes on regular basis to the public.
He said “rebuilding trust and confidence in the police will be difficult because of the department’s secrecy. Providing information to and seeking information from the public on matters of terrorism requires an especially thoughtful approach. Keeping the public informed and finding ways to engage them is one premise of the CTU campaign that encourages the community and front line employees to report suspicious behavior, activities and circumstances”.
Awofadeji recommended that aside from the issuance of press releases, organizing news conferences which were common, the police should write regular columns for newspaper publication about crime prevention, events going on in the force or community as well as publishing their personal newsletters, brochures and organizing community presentations and meetings.
While in an address earlier, the Chairman of the consultancy firm CORART Ventures Limited,Mr Stanley Mshelia who said about 30 officers working under police public relations departments and human right desks from the six north eastern states participated in the training, added that the workshop was aimed at preparing the police officers for challenges after the defeat of the Boko haram insurgents in the region.
