The Chairman of Correspondent Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State chapter, Mr. Segun Awofadeji, has said that Police Public Relation Officers (PPRO) have pivotal roles to play in re-branding of the Nigerian Police Force and restoring people’s confidence.
Awofadeji gave the advice in Bauchi, while presenting a paper titled, “Effective Communication Practices as a prerequisite for Successful Policing” at a two-day 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.”
“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 behaviour, activities and circumstances”, he said.
Awofadeji 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 also advised them to imbibe good human relation qualities and allow members of the public to provide information to them under confidentiality and protection that could help in the control of crime.
Awofadeji said “aside 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 of personal newsletters, brochures and organizing community presentations and meetings.”
Chairman of the consultancy firm, CORART Ventures Limited represented by Stanley Mshelia, explained that the workshop was aimed at preparing the police officers for challenges after the fight against insurgency in the region was won.
He said that about 30 officers working under police public relations departments and human right desks from the six North East states of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Yobe and Borno, participated in the training.
.Source: nigerianewsflight.com