The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng has called on communities in the state to partner with the police to defeat insecurity.
The CP made the call at a meeting of the Anambra State Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum (PSPF) held in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Wednesday.
He called on communities in Anambra to forge an alliance with the police to establish an environment of trust and mutual respect for the well-being of man and society.
He said such engagement would amount to the elimination of crime and criminality that had ravaged the state, the southeast and the country at large.
The CP said: “Police must actively cultivate the trust of the community and refrain from acts that endanger trust as confidence once broken will be difficult to regain.”
“Communities too must endeavour not to abuse this trust. When individuals give false information aimed at achieving selfish objectives, it erodes mutual trust.
“Both sides must understand that they need each other and that a partnership built on mutual respect must be forged in the interest of the community. It is only in an ambience of partnership that problems confronting communities can be holistically addressed and ultimately solved.”
The Commissioner said selflessness is when police watch out for the good of the community and the community reciprocates same, and that doing otherwise endangers both the police and the community.
“It is not enough for the Police to be willing to engage the community it serves. There is a need for the community to be interested in partnering with the Police and where both parties are disposed to forging a partnership that works, the society is the better for it.”
Echeng commended the PSPF and RULAAC for their roles in forging a partnership that has enthroned access to justice in the state.
Earlier, Anambra State Coordinator of PSPF, Prince Chris Azor and the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, commended the Nigerian Police for their doggedness and courage in service, especially during the period of EndSARS protest.
