The need to enhance the relationship between the Nigeria police force and the public has been emphasized.

The emphasis was given by speakers today at a one day workshop for charge officers of the Oyo state command of the Nigeria Police force with the theme “PR Training”: Panacea to unprofessionalism at police charge rooms held at the police headquarters Elyele Ibadan.

In her lecture titled “ Image making and reputation management: important skill for every police officer, The Chairperson, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Oyo state chapter Mrs Yetunde Bolanle Alagbe stated that  the charge officers are the first contact with the public hence they play a very crucial role in shaping public perception about the force.

She added that good image can only be built on good character, good deed, responsible performance and action backed by effective communication.

Mrs Alagbe therefore enjoined the charge officers to ensure that their image matches their reputation adding that if they are to be seen as friends of the public, they must match their actions with the way they relate with the said public so as not to make mockery of the said slogan “police if your friend”.

Another speaker Revd. Taiwo  Olaniran in his paper presentation at the workshop explained that police - community relations is primarily the practice of public relations, which is a collection of communication techniques used by individuals or organizations to convince an audience about the merits of an idea.

He highlighted that the community is an important public for all institutions and individuals desirous of achieving the goals of understanding, goodwill, good public opinion, support, tolerance and acceptability of their immediate and remote environment and that public relations policies and organization’s programmes must revolve around the community.

In his goodwill message at the event, the Oyo state commissioner of police CP. Mohammed Indabawa noted that about sixty to seventy percent of the problems facing the force is Public Relations adding that it should be taken more seriously.

The commissioner further called on the Charge Officers to always be open and polite to the members of the public adding that the workshop will enable the officers perform better in that regard.

He therefore called on the officers to take the lessons learnt from the workshop back to their various commands and ensure they put it to good use.

The Oyo state Police Public Relations Officer DSP. Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor in her welcome address noted that a front desk officer encapsulates the ideals and image of the organization he/she represents adding that the officer is the unofficial public relations officer of the organization and as such must work in line with values defining public relations and must also reflect the commonplace belief from the public that the police are the surest friends easily available to the public.

She noted that the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector General of police. MD Abubakar is working round the clock to give the force its place of pride in the committee of nations adding that the transformation agenda can only be achieved through the efforts of the front desk officers/ charge room officers.

The PPRO added that if the force must gain the required confidence from Nigerians and imbibe in them the International way of policing, then the front desk officers must serve as the face and voice of all police formations in the country.

Various participants at the event who spoke with CEOAFRICA news applauded the public relations department of the command for putting the programme together describing it at timely. They added that the seminar would help in sensitizing them on the importance of projecting the image of the police as well as help in improving the relationship between the officers and the public.