The inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered state, area and divisional commands to involve the members of the Police Community Relations Committee in routine operations.

Mr Egbetokun stated this at the PCRC’s maiden executive national training on Thursday in Abuja.

The police boss said the action was necessary because of the significant role of PCRC in community policing. He added that the Nigerian police were unwaveringly committed to strengthening the capacity of PCRC operations, especially in combating criminal activities in the country.

“All commissioners of police, divisional officers and area commands have been duly informed to provide security and support to the PCRC in their respective areas of responsibilities,’’ he said.

Mr Egbetokun said that as part of the government’s policing agenda, his office and the Police Service Commission have been silently, diligently, and authoritatively making efforts to change the pattern of policing in Nigeria.

“The changes will give us the leverage to do more policing for Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole,’’ Mr Egbetokun said.

He also urged the PCRC members to adopt a new approach to community policing, adding that policing is everybody’s business and requires the involvement of all members of society, including the security agents.

The police boss, therefore, congratulated the national chairman and other PCRC members for the association’s achievements within the last 40 years of its existence.

Also, the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, said community policing remained central to the nation’s strategic plan for fostering safe and resilient communities.

According to him, technology has become a game changer in modern policing, necessitating new approaches to crime control mechanisms.

(NAN)