By Ibukun Emiola
THE NIGERIA Society for Criminology (NSC) has called for the inclusion of experts’ research-based opinions in drafting the state policing framework.
The society, at its webinar on Thursday, in addition, called for thorough national legislation to limit the abuse of a decentralised police system as its creation gathers momentum.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the webinar is entitled “Perspectives on State Policing”.
NSC president, Prof. Oludayo Tade, said one of the society’s mandates was to guide the government in formulating appropriate policies to check criminality and criminal behaviour.
In addition, he said the society would readily guide the government in drafting policies to improve Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
According to Tade, NSC is set to partner with relevant government organs and agencies to review and recommend suitable models to improve the nation’s security situation.
Meanwhile, NSC Chairman, Board of Trustees, Prof. Etannibi Alemika, maintained that the challenges of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) must first be resolved before the creation of state police.
He warned that any rush to establish state police without due diligence would only reproduce the same structural, organisational and individual challenges confronting the NPF.
“The police force is not a transformative agency because its role is to reproduce the prevailing social order and repress dissent against it,” he said.
According to him, solutions to crimes and criminality are sought within the social, political and economic structures that cause and reproduce them for the benefit of the Nigerian state.
For smooth access, follow National Record WhatsApp Channel
“Police performance and relations with citizens reflect the extent of good governance and performance of the government, of which the police force is an agent.
“The quest for good policing must be an intrinsic element of the struggle for the entrenchment of a social democratic political system and a developed economy managed and advanced for the welfare, security, and dignity of citizens,” he said.
NAN reports the webinar affirms the bright side of state police to improve security, provide job opportunities, promote true federalism and enhance local government administration.
However, it cited the breeding of antagonistic competition among forces and varied standards and processes of operations as some of the challenges of decentralised policing.
Other challenges are partisanship and capture of the policing system by local dominant powers, poor coordination of information sharing and cross-border operations across jurisdictions.
NAN reports other participants at the webinar are Professors Smart Out and Lanre Ikuteyijo. (NAN)
