The Police in Rivers State, as parts of the efforts and strategies to ensure safety of lives and property in the state, have inaugurated the Stakeholders’ Forum of the State Police Command.
The forum was inaugurated by the State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin last Wednesday during a meeting with Legal Officers of Banks in Port Harcourt.
The meeting that started at 2:50pm was well attended by twenty four (24) legal officers representing thirteen (13) banks in the Port Harcourt Metropolis.
The Commissioner in his welcome address appreciated the banks for their efforts in supporting the command with the provision of adequate information that has aided police investigation of cases.
The Rivers State Police boss also spoke of the need to take the partnership to a greater level by urging members of the forum to strive towards ensuring that lives and property are protected in the state .
In stating their concerns, the legal officials raised some salient issues, particularly the need for the command to take note of the number of judgments decided against the police as a result of improper representation at the court.
Also, it was highlighted that there is a need for a designated office of the police to handle cases involving garnishee orders so as to reduce rigours involved in such cases.
Other issues raised includes; the shortness of time given by the police for information from banks to aid investigation and the need for police officers handling investigations to be more courteous in their approach.
In response, the Commissioner advised his guests to obtain his phone number and those of other senior officers and also urged them to use the relevant social media associated with the police.
Compol Ogunsakin also expressed the commitment of the command to improve the capacity of the officers to carry out investigations and pointed out the structural challenge of the police as the peculiarity of transfers which he sees as a cause of some misconceptions in investigations.
