PHOTOS: Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates Community Policing In Lagos

Lagos State Government on Wednesday inaugurated community policing in the state.

The Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu instituted members of the two committees at a ceremony held at the State House in Alausa.

It was reported that, launch of the State Community Policing Advisory Committee and its operations arm, the State Community Policing Committee was geared towards improving security in the state.

The SCPAC is co-chaired by the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, and the Chairman of Council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

Sanwo-Olu said, 

Today, we brought together our security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders that will help us succeed. 

We must take bold steps to ensure the security of lives and property in our state and as part of this mandate, I inaugurated the State Community Policing Advisory Committee and State Community Policing Committee as we implement overdue policing reforms tailored to our reality.

"With both committees in place, we now have operational guidelines and procedures that will promote and sustain mutual trust, respect and confidence between the people and security agencies thereby making Lagos State safer for our people."

A major inadequacy of our current policing system has been the inability to tap the knowledge and intelligence that exists at neighbourhood and community level. 

“The work that the Police are expected to do becomes more difficult when they are expected to do it alone. No matter how well-resourced or technologically advanced a Police Force might be, there might be no progress without the trust and support of the communities in which they operate. Every citizen has a role to play in ensuring that the security architecture functions optimally.

“Community policing, in its ideal implementation, will take a lot of pressure off the Police Force and allow them to focus their energy and resources where it matters most. It will give citizens and residents a strong sense of participation in governance, and strengthen the social contract between the Government and the governed. A citizen-centric approach to tackling crime and criminality is a big plus for democratic practice and governance.”

Also, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, David Folawiyo, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, said the nation had reached a point where the police must interface with community members in maintaining social order.

“It is a bottom-up approach that shifts focus on reactive law enforcement to proactive problem solving,” he said

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