The establishment of Police Public Relations School will strengthen the capacity and capabilities of spokespersons of the Nigeria Police.

Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris made the statement at the commencement of five-day training for spokespersons of state and zonal commands and the inauguration of the Police Public Relations School.

Idris said when fully operational, the school was expected to train officers in the 12 zonal commands, 36 states commands among others, saying the force was making efforts to change public perception of the police by striving to do away with unethical behaviours.

He urged the PPROs attending the inaugural training at the school to extend the knowledge they would acquire to their colleagues in their respective commands.

You should be the vanguard of the community policing strategy of the force,“he said.

Provost of the school and former Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu said it was important to train police officers on the emerging media.

The police was always in the eyes of the public; as such it is important to train them,“he said.

In his remarks, former Director-General, Nigeria Press Council, Bayo Atoyebi said the training was essential for police officers to discharge their duties professionally.

He charged the officers to practicalise what they would learn from the training to enhance their operations.

President, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Rotimi Oladele expressed disappointment that the force had for the last 40 years, failed to institutionalise public relations.

He assured that the institute would assist the police to sustain the school which he described as a `landmark achievement.’

Oladele commended the police for the synergy between it and other stakeholders that led to the establishment of the school.

Chairman, Police Public Relations School establishment committee, Prof. Olu Ogunsakin said the school would provide officers training to meet the demands of the 21st century.

He said the force had set a milestone through the establishment of the school that met international policing best practices.