IGP and his concept of democratic policing
Democratic policing is a widely used approach today, not only in western societies but increasingly around the world. There is hardly a possibility for a surviving and enduring democracy without a police system whose cardinal focus is to engender democratic tenets. Thus, the indispensability of the role of democratic policing in the establishment of democracy is universally acclaimed. The essential characteristics of democratic policing, according to Philip Stenning, a professor of Criminology in Keele University, lies in its conscious efforts to be accountable to the public, it’s unconditional willingness to be subjected to the rule of law, and respect of human dignity with limited intrusion into the citizen’s lives.
Democratic policing therefore is an act of policing anchored in egalitarian practices, accountability, observance of the rule of law, response to the yearnings and aspirations of citizens as well as the protection of democratic institutions.
A critical overview of the concept of democratic policing clearly shows that the concept is a holistic affair of police duty. Thus, the entire functional relevance of police system must necessarily be predicated upon democratic policing. Therefore the police that searns the people’s confidence is a police institution that finds value in democratic policing. The systemic change in South Africa for instance brought about a change in police system which is diametrically opposed to the authoritarian system that was a major instrument for perpetration of apartheid regime.
In fact, democratic policing is, to entire democratic system, what blood is to the entire body system. However, it had suffered a historical neglect in Nigeria. However, with the emergence of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, there seem to be a paradigm shift as the institution now thinks and behaves differently.
In his inaugural speech, the IGP announced to the world that the policy direction under his watch would focus on democratic policing. Giving the policy breakdown the IG said, “The Nigeria Police will henceforth operate the principle of democratic policing” which, according to him among others, connotes a police system that is representative, responsive, and accountable to the citizen at all times.
Driving his new policy further, he said “the Nigerian Police, will henceforth be regarded by international core value of policing with integrity, ensuring that the rule of law prevails in our act of policing.”
Irked by perennial ethnic crises in the country, he promised to midwife a police system that strictly respects diversities, courage, corporate existence and professionalism. Having realized the indispensability of public confidence and trust in actualizing the new objective, the IGP promised to establish an Eminent Persons Forum in all states police command in Nigeria. This position is a reflection of international core value of policing which says that the power to control the force should lie on both government and the community. Advancing this argument further, Professor Philip argued that “the advocates of democratic policing are of the opinion that the power to control the force should not be in the exclusive domain of the government, but should also involve members of the public.”
No doubt, this policy focus which deals with creating a forum of selected and respected persons in each state of the federation to collaborate with police to deal with secular problems is itself a component part of democratic policing, for no known factor had threatened the nation’s democracy like ethnoreligious sentimentalism in Nigeria.
In a similar vein, observers of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic landscape have repeatedly pointed to a near complete absence of accountability as a major cancer eating up the nation’s polity. In view of this, the IGP pointed out that “the Nigeria Police force will henceforth have as its main focus, integrity, accountability as its cardinal operational principle in all its actions and will be decisive on any of its personnel who deviates from the core value”.
Quick police response has been known to be a regular practice of many police system. Therefore, strict attention to complainants has been regarded as an integral part of democratic policing. Unfortunately, this had been one of the failures of the Nigeria Police over time. To stem the tide of this unprofessional practice, the IGP has insisted that under his watch the police must be people centered.
It is also a known fact that in colonial and the neo-colonial police system, the police model had not focused on public safety, justice, and other professional practices because of poor motivation and training. This, the new IGP promised to improve upon.
Moreover, under the new policy focus, the management of the police cooperative and insurance scheme will not only now be characterized by transparency and accountability but will, according to the IGP, henceforth be under the purview of tested and trusted personnel.
Responses from most Nigerians, of course, vary. Some argue that high profile promises by police bosses had become part of the system’s tradition which seldom had nothing to show in the end.
However, a huge number of Nigerians do not only welcome the IGP speech which they see as a major innovation that will ultimately help the entire polity and democracy because of what they perceived as the credibility of the man who made the statement.
The new IGP in all ramifications deserves some benefit of doubt because of his track records of achievement as an international police officer. Of course he is so regarded in the Nigerian police circle not just because he had bagged numerous local and international awards, nor due only to the various United Nations operations he successfully led, but largely because, within this period he was trained in a civilized police system that nurtured and mentored him about the importance of democratic culture in the act of policing. Taking into consideration the activities of the IGP since his assumption of office, it is obvious that the idea of democratic policing will be a reality. For example, the IGP’s continuous sensitization of the public on the free bail phenomenon, his campaign against hindrances in free public procession and series of meetings he has held with stakeholders across the country are all indications that he is ready to pursue his new policy focus to a logical conclusion. The huge challenge the IGP may confront is how to make this lofty programme outlive him. In other words, how does he encourage the force to internalize the concept of democratic policing? The answer to this question remains the responsibility of the IGP.