Evaluation of the Structures and Operations of the Nigeria Police Public Relations Department

Abstract

This study examines the structures and operations of the Nigeria Police Public Relations Department (NPPRD) saddled with the responsibility of improving relationship between the police and the civil populace. In-depth interview method was used to ascertain the structures and strategies put in place by NNPRD to engendered a civic, corrupt-free, public-friendly and operationally capable police force for Nigeria. The interviewed covered a cross section of the Nigerian police and members of the public-police community relations. Consequently, contrary to popular expectations, the study reveals that NPPRD has evolved vibrant structures and mechanisms such as Police Public Complaint Bureau, Police Community Relations Committees and the various organs of the Community-Policing Project scattered all over the country which are aimed at bridging the gap between the police and the public with a view of curbing police inappropriate use of lethal force, extra-judicial killings, intimidation, extortion, illegal arrest and detention, among others. The study concludes that more awareness programme is required for the effort to sanitize the police force to be appreciated by the member of the public. The study recommends that NNPRD should be autonomous and public relations professionals recruited into its fold; rigorous background check of recruits in order to weed out people of questionable characters at the point of entry and the design of curriculum that would inculcate modern policing ideals and democratic values in police rank and file.