The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase has charged Police Public Relations Officers across the State Commands and Departments of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that they are accessible to the public including the media to enable them win the war against crime.
Dr. Arase who is a retired Inspector General of Police also pointed out that they should also be aware that to make a success of their assignment their phone lines must be available at all times to the general public, this will enable them relate freely with the masses who are constantly seeking for information from them.
The PSC Chairman represented by Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the Commission at the opening ceremony of the Annual Conference of the Police Public Relations Officers holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
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Ani said “the work of Police Public Relations Officers at any level is challenging and calls for dedication and commitment”.
He urged them to live up to the original essence of communication which is to share commonness and the greatest ingredient of such commonness can be located in deep trust of the citizens; a trust that is founded on the reality that information from them are treated upon on the strictest confidence.
According to him “information sharing has become a compelling imperative more that ever before since crime has become a mobile enterprise”.
He noted that he is gratified that the management of the Nigeria Police Force has kept faith with the Annual Conference which brings together all the serving Public Relations Officers of the Force to a round table to brain storm on the way forward on information management of the Force “which is very critical to the success of policing in a diverse Nigerian environment.
He noted that the Conference is therefore very germane in advancing effective policing in Nigeria and could not have come at a better time.
Dr Arase also disclosed said the operating environment is already in a flux and compels the Nigeria Police Force to not only rapidly adapt but also strive to stay ahead of the curve of changing public opinion.
“We should not only react to public opinion, but should anticipate and shape public opinion, we must be proactive”, he said.
He however promised that the Police Service Commission will continue to support the Nigeria Police Force in the effective and efficient discharge of its duties as the lead Agency in internal security and will in our communication to the public.
By Ajibola Adedoye