Efforts are on to boost forensic department of the Nigeria Police for effective crime fighting and investigation.

According to Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, forensic department is a serious or vital section of the force that needed congent attention.

He spoke at the opening ceremony of a three-days training for the Police Public Relations Officer across the country and the force public relations department on a theme: ‘Crime Scene Management and Conclusive Investigation, The role of Police Spokespersons.’
According to him, the force is collaborating with German Development Cooperation (GIZ) to train police Public Relations Officer of the force headquarters and across the country on forensic.

He said: ” It is important for all PRO to know much about forensic since they are the first respondents to crime scene as they would have fore knowledge of crime scene, so that they should be able to know what to touch and what not to touch so that investigation will not be jeopardised.

“Training and retraining is the second thing we require after manpower, if you have manpower the next thing you need is training, the public relations department is a place where officers in the department should be versitile in the issue of administration, operation and investigation, they should be jack of all trade master of none, that is why we have to improve their capacity in the scene of crime.
“Respond to scene of crime require alot of professional, tactics and skills, because when they go to scene of crime or incident there are issues about evidence in that they need to know how to preserve their evidence and preserve the scene it self, in terms of having a forensic that may require analysis, so we are developing their skills in trying to respond to the public and tried to give them the details of what has happened without compromising or not jeopardising investigation.”
He further said, There is room for improvement on our forensic investigation.
“Our forensic laboratory can give us what we want, but in a situation we don’t get what we want, we may also require assistance from other sister agencies or those with functional one outside the country. I sincerely appreciate the Head of Component, GIZ Nigeria, Mr. Gertjan de Gruijter, for GIZ’s approval and for undertaking to sponsor and organize this workshop as part of the many interventions by the organization in building and strengthening Police structures and capacity in Nigeria.”
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Wednesday harped on implementation of manpower development policy that will focuses on improving capacity of Police personnel across all ranks, in line with new policing standards and best practice.
Baba who stressed on these in his opening remarks of a-3days fully residential capacity building workshop for Public Relations Officers (PPRO) across all Commands and other Formations of the Nigeria Police Force and organized in partnership with the Nigeria – German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in Lagos. 
IGP, explained that, the workshop for Police Public Relations Officers is timely and unique in many ways and one of it,  is the contextual theme of the workshop which seeks to develop robust forensic awareness and knowledge for their spokespersons.
He said that this in itself flows from contemporary public relations practice which identifies Police spokespersons across the world as one of the first responders to crime scenes.
“ This is in addition to many other important roles played by Police Spokespersons in managing crime incidents throughout the investigative processes. These roles are germane to the pursuit of professional criminal investigations and the dispensation of justice to both the victims and defendants.”
“i sincerely appreciate the Head of Component, GIZ Nigeria, Gertjan de Gruijter, for GIZ’s approval and for undertaking to sponsor and organize this workshop as part of the many interventions by the organization in building and strengthening Police structures and capacity in Nigeria.
Alkali, also stated that the course will seeks to equip the participants with skills necessary for effective descriptive, analytical and strategic communication touching on criminal investigations and procedure. 
“This in turn will enable them acquire relevant skills to give appropriate responses to citizens and media enquiries into matter of forensic and evidential nature connected to ongoing criminal investigations.”
“I have no doubt that the 3-days workshop would, amongst other benefits, impact Police Spokespersons positively, particularly in the areas of Strategic Communication and Crime Scene Management.”
He added that, the participants of this course must be reminded that, to succeed as Police Image Makers, they must be versatile and have deep theoretical androgen practical knowledge of all aspects of policing, covering administration, operations, investigations, forensics, amongst others.”
“Therefore, the quest for resourcefulness, remains an integral part of the objective of this course” he said.
Baba said the workshop is coming at a time when the Force is implementing a new Manpower Development Policy, which amongst other things, focuses on improving capacity of Police personnel across all ranks, in line with new policing standards and best practices.
He said the workshop for Police Public Relations Officers is timely and unique in many ways as it seeks to develop robust forensic awareness and knowledge for police Spokespersons.
This is in addition to many other important roles played by Police Spokespersons in managing crime incidents throughout the investigative processes. These roles are germane to the pursuit of professional criminal investigations and the dispensation of justice to both the victims and defendants.
He said the course also seeks to equip the participants with skills necessary for effective descriptive, analytical and strategic communication touching on criminal investigations and procedure. This in turn he believes will enable them acquire relevant skills to give appropriate responses to citizens and media enquiries into matter of forensic and evidential nature connected to ongoing criminal investigations.
Baba expressed optimism that the 3-days workshop would, amongst other benefits, impact Police Spokespersons positively, particularly in the areas of Strategic Communication and Crime Scene Management.
He also reminded participants that, to succeed as Police Image Makers, they must be versatile and have deep theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of policing, covering administration, operations, investigations, forensics, amongst others.
REMARKS BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, IGP USMAN ALKALI BABA, psc (+), NPM, fdc AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A 3-DAY FULLY RESIDENTIAL CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR POLICE PUBLIC RELATONS OFFICERS

Protocol
It is with great sense of professional fulfilment that I welcome you all to this very important occasion which is the opening ceremony of a 3-day Intensive Capacity Building Workshop for Police Public Relations Officers across all Commands and other Formations of the Nigeria Police Force. This workshop, with the theme, “Crime Scene Management and Conclusive Criminal Investigations – The Role of Police Spokespersons”, will hold from today, through to 3rd September, 2021.

  1. Ladies and gentlemen, this workshop is organized in partnership with the Nigeria – German Development Cooperation (GIZ). I sincerely appreciate the Head of Component, GIZ Nigeria, Gertjan de Gruijter, for GIZ’s approval and for undertaking to sponsor and organize this workshop as part of the many interventions by the organization in building and strengthening Police structures and capacity in Nigeria. I am reliably informed by the Force Public Relations Officer, who has been interacting with the GIZ team on behalf of the Force, that the workshop would be in two (2) batches with the first batch holding here in Lagos and the second in Abuja. This is for the purpose of positive intellectual impact and also in compliance with the COVID-19 prevention regulations.
  2. Let me state that I am particularly excited about this workshop, owing to the fact that, it is coming at a time when the Force is implementing a new Manpower Development Policy, which amongst other things, focuses on improving capacity of Police personnel across all ranks, in line with new policing standards and best practices.
  3. This workshop for Police Public Relations Officers is timely and unique in many ways. One of these, is the contextual theme of the workshop which seeks to develop robust forensic awareness and knowledge for our Spokespersons. This in itself flows from contemporary public relations practice which identifies Police spokespersons across the world as one of the first responders to crime scenes. This is in addition to many other important roles played by Police Spokespersons in managing crime incidents throughout the investigative processes. These roles are germane to the pursuit of professional criminal investigations and the dispensation of justice to both the victims and defendants.
  4. This course also seeks to equip the participants with skills necessary for effective descriptive, analytical and strategic communication touching on criminal investigations and procedure. This in turn will enable them acquire relevant skills to give appropriate responses to citizens and media enquiries into matter of forensic and evidential nature connected to ongoing criminal investigations.
  5. I have no doubt that the 3-days workshop would, amongst other benefits, impact Police Spokespersons positively, particularly in the areas of Strategic Communication and Crime Scene Management. In addition, participants of this course must be reminded that, to succeed as Police Image Makers, they must be versatile and have deep theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of policing, covering administration, operations, investigations, forensics, amongst others. Therefore, the quest for resourcefulness, remains an integral part of the objective of this course.
  6. I encourage the participants to take advantage of the opportunities the workshop presents, to interact, cross fertilize and broaden their skills, especially in responding to crime incidents and to fit-in to the ever demanding, dynamic but necessary task of information management and public engagement, for the Force. I am confident that the trainees will put up their best of performance throughout the period of the training and reflect the knowledge gained in their service delivery.
  7. The Nigeria Police, under my watch, remains committed to well-thought-out and goal-driven partnership and collaborations, with progressive and positive-minded organizations such as the GIZ, targeted at enhancing professional, structural and operational capacity of the Force. The Force would sustain this relationship and open new areas of collaborations, particularly ones touching on capacities on criminal investigations, respect for human rights, access to justice for citizens, improved transparency and accountability in policing actions, and other deliberate efforts aimed at strengthening citizens’ complaint response system.
  8. Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to this event and I wish you a robust and professionally-rewarding engagement. On this note, it is my singular honour to declare this Workshop open. I thank you for your attention.