Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi has said that Divisional Intelligence Offices would be set up at police stations across the state to handle information given by members of the public.
The police boss who disclosed this at Stakeholders Security Meeting with Ikeja residents said this was in line with intelligence-led policing to aid community policing.
“Every police officer would now have a pocket notebook to jot down information given to them by members of the public while on duty.
“This information would be forwarded to the Divisional Information Officer at the end of the day for thorough processing.
“This has become important as it has been observed that people often give information to policemen and it ends there but that will seize from now”, he said.
Imohimi added that there is no police force all over the world that can perform without intelligence.
He added that intelligence can only be received from the public when there is trust.
“Community policing is based on trust and goodwill. The era of a slap on the wrist for erring police officers is over and henceforth, any police officer caught demanding money for whatever reason will be dismissed.
“If we fail to do so, we will fail to gain your trust and community policing will fail.
“We encourage the people to say something when they see something. It is our duty to process the information and we promise to protect your identity.
“The police would also regulate the use of police stickers and other police souvenirs which had made some people fall victim of kidnappers.
“You know when a person enters a bus feeling safe after seeing a police sticker on it but eventually falls victim, such person will never see anything good in the police”, he said.
He added that the Citizens Complaints Hot center (CCHC) is available to report police misconduct and also police patrol vehicles will be stationed at strategic points where people can run to when in distress.
“We have the Lagos State Police Command Intelligence Laboratory at Alausa, Ikeja where information supplied are processed”, he said.
The CP however pledged support for the vigilante security men as long as they have been profiled and registered with the police.
“Adequate security will be provided for vigilante men especially at night because we no longer want all forms of residential robbery”, the CP said.
Imohimi also advised DPOs to communicate more with the people in their communities and advised that Community Development Associations (CDAs) should also hold regular meetings with their DPOs.
He however commended the State Government for her support and charged police officers to pay back the gesture by keeping the state safe