ELEMENTS AND CONSTITUENTS OF A NATIONAL POLICY ON PUBLICSAFETYAND SECURITY1

Being a Contribution on the Emerging:NATIONAL POLICY ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY

(NIGERIA POLICE FORCE: NPF)OR

(NIGERIA POLICE SERVICE: NPS after a Review of the 1999Constitution)

BY

PROF. SADIQ ISAH RADDASOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANOiraddasadiq@yahoo.com

08053204515------------------------------------------------------

1 Being a paper presented at a 2-Day Academia Consultative Forum Organized bythe Ministry of Police Affairs Held at Ajuji Hotel, Gudu District, FCT, Abuja,8th-9th October, 2014.

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OCTOBER, 2014

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FOREWORD

(To be written by the Inspector General of Police)

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PREFACE(To be Written by a Famous Former IGP or such other Prominent

Nigerian)

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GLOSSARY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

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PART ONEBACKGROUND

The state of insecurity permeating every part of Nigeria is ofgreat concern to governments, citizens and even foreigners.Nearly all facets of life are negatively affected therebydrastically reducing Nigeria’s socio-economic, educational,political, diplomatic, etc, standing today with palpable threatto the future. Accordingly, something must be done by thegovernment, citizens and foreign interests to the mutual benefitof all. Hence, a National Policy on Public Safety and Securityfor Nigeria (the Policy henceforth) is urgently needed.

Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is committed to the security, safetyand welfare of citizens, and foreigners through the establishmentof reasonable practices that support the creation of a safe andsecure environment, promote safety through policies andprogrammes, provide an appropriate level of security to thepopulation through police functions and safeguard the nation’sproperty and physical assets.

The Police is committed to promoting the safety and security ofthe members of the community within a supportive and accessibleliving and working environment. It is further committed tosafeguarding physical resources, identifying conditions orcircumstances that may pose risks to the safety and security ofthe nation and prepare the police to effectively respond toemergencies. This presentation covers the elements andingredients of a policy for human security and safety dealingwith police code of conduct, schedule of duties for all ranks asthey enforce the law and punishment for common offences againstdiscipline of security personnel.

DEFINITION OF KEY ISSUES

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Definition of National Security

National security refers to a state or condition where the most

cherished values and beliefs [right to religion, cultural

practice, association, economic activity, civil liberties,

democratic way of life, sanctity of institutions of governance

and national unity, welfare and well-being of the nation and the

people] are permanently protected and continuously enhanced.

There are seven fundamental elements that lie at the core of, and

therefore further amplify the definition of national security. At

the same time, they constitute the most important challenges

faced by nations and peoples, (McNamara, 1956:141;Bellany,

1981:102). These are:

. 1. Socio-Political Stability;

2. Territorial Integrity;

3. Economic Solidarity and Strength;

4. Ecological Balance;

5. Cultural Cohesiveness;

6. Moral-Spiritual Consensus; and

7. External Peace

INSECURITY

The term insecurity is a condition in which people have no

confidence in the institutions and leadership that should protect

their lives, property and provide for their well-being.

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Consequently, they live in trauma, fear, anger, despair,

suspicion and mistrust. On the contrary, security is a cherished

state of being which constitute a number of values that people

un-avoidably desire (Onuoha, 2005). It is a paramount condition

required by humans whose satisfaction guarantees a feeling of

wellbeing and survival. Paskins (1993) compare security and

insecurity thus:

Security is a value, one among ill-assortedand vitally important values; insecurity isa ‘disvalue’, a bad thing, one among anumber of evils to which we are unavoidablyaverse to. We want security and we fear andshun insecurity, (Paskins,1993: 16).

If security is the state of feeling or being safe and protected,

insecurity is the state of being unsafe or insecure. It is also a

state of mind characterized by self-doubt and vulnerability.

Security is a guarantee and protection for vulnerable beings to

exist, and the essence of insecurity is the lack of such

protection. According to Imobighe (1998), security is defined as

freedom from danger, fear, anxiety and uncertainty or relative

freedom from aggression and unwarranted violation. Bellany (1981)

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posits that security is a relative freedom from war, coupled with the

idea that should war occur defeat will be a consequence. In this regard,

security is exclusively focusing on military concerns.

But defining security merely or primarily in military terms

conveys false image of reality as it entails concentration on

military threats while ignoring other dangers that undermine

security and create the conditions for military actions. A number

of scholars have criticized this narrow understanding of

security. Among them, McNamara (1956) deviated from the military

aspect of security, to concentrate on other important issues such

as technology and economic development. On security in developing

countries, he elaborates on the major causes of insecurity thus:

It is poverty, not the lack of militaryhardware that is responsible for insecurityacross the Southern half of the planet…Security is development and withoutdevelopment there can be no security,(McNamara, 1956:141).

Insecurity also connotes an atmosphere or a state of mind

characterized by self-doubt and vulnerability. It is a situation

in which the citizens do not feel safe, in which crime rate is

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high and where the inhabitants feel vulnerable. Consequently, the

term “insecurity” would imply a situation that encourages

instability, crime, lack of economic development and

deterioration in the well-being and quality of life of a people.

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PART TWO

POLICY FOCUS AND CONCERNS RELATING TO NPF ACTIVITIESMotto: Collaborative Effort for a Secure Nation

Vision: Make the Nigeria Police Force empowered thereby promoting localand international socio-economic activities via a Secure Nation.

Mission:To assist the citizens and foreigners feel safe in Nigeria’ssocio-economic activities thereby contributing to the developmentof the country.

Goals:The Goals of the Policy includes the following:To receive and investigate complaints of citizens by the police; To protect lives and property;To give citizens and foreigners a strong feeling of security inthe nation;To liaise with outside agencies in the promotion and protectionof the nation’s interest; To ensure that police personnel come to the aid of victims ofcrime or mishap;To ensure the promotion and protection of human rights by policepersonnel; andTo ensure that security personnel conform to professional code ofethics.

ELEMENTS OF A NATIONAL POLICY ON SAFETY AND SECURITY

It will be extremely difficult to craft a national policy capableof covering every aspect of human life. Moreover, security and

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safety challenges are as dynamic as dynamism in the society.According to Radda (2010):

The list of social problems [requiringgovernment policy] is inexhaustible as itcovers a wide range of issues: poverty,examinations malpractice, greenhouseemission, nuclear and bio-warfare,insurgency, guerilla warfare, war, refugeesand IDPs, child theft, human trafficking,cyber terrorism, unemployment, diseases,environmental pollution, alcoholism and drugabuse, crime, juvenile delinquency,prostitution, etc. These problems are morepronounced with urbanization andindustrialization, (Radda, 2010:1).

Therefore, as changes occur in society, policy review is neededto grapple with the changes. In other words, a policy normallyaddresses the prevailing challenges relating to the concerns ofthe moment with little capacity to cover everything and everytime. Hence, policy review is compulsory. Below are some elementsand constituents of a policy.

The policy which should be evidence-based must have inter-connectedness with crime and crime prevention. Therefore, thepolicy should be comprehensive beginning with arrest, detention,punishment, probation and recidivism. The policy needs to coverthe interests of the physically challenged, socio-economicallyexcluded groups, children, the aged and women. Again,alternatives to incarceration should be covered by the policy.Additionally, motivation and training of the personnel of the NPFare essential to the Policy.

There are many different types of policies in criminal justicesystem, representing a series of constant innovation and

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experiments aimed at discovering what works to meet the goals ofcriminal justice systems: reduction in criminal behavior;protection of public safety and security; socio-economicstability and prosperity; political advancement anddemocratization; positive change in individual, group,organizations, communities, societal and cultural norms, etc.

Therefore, the policy, being a planned change, needs to complywith the seven-stage model. The objectives of the model are toanalyze the problem, determine its causes, plan and execute someinterventions. The seven stages are:1. Analyzing the problem;2. Setting goals and objectives;3. Designing the policy;4. Developing an action plan;5. Developing a plan for monitoring policy implementation;6. Developing a plan for evaluating outcomes; and7. Initiating the policy design.

In the effort to conform to the model, the presentation givessome fundamentals or rudiments of a National Policy on PublicSafety and Security for Nigeria. The presentation covers thebasics and is subject to review.

In policy design, the major activities are: 1. Defining the target population indicating whom the

intervention is aimed at;2. Defining target selection and intake procedures showing how

targets are selected and recruited for the intervention;3. Defining programme components by unveiling the precise

nature, amount and sequence of activities. This will showwho, what, to whom, in what order, and how much? and

4. Writing the job description of staff and defining the skillsand training required

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Furthermore, the major activities for policy design include thefollowing:1. Identifying and defining the persons or groups the policy

targets;2. Identifying the responsible authority to show those expected

to execute the policy and their responsibilities; and3. Defining the provisions and procedures of the policy showing

sanctions, services and sequence of actions.

Developing a Plan for Monitoring Policy Implementation Monitoring: Information is collected in order to determine to

what degree the programme or policy design is being carriedout as planned. Is the intended target population beingreached? Are policy activities or provisions actually beingcarried out as planned? Are appropriate staff or responsibleauthorities selected and trained, and are they carrying outtheir assigned duties?

Design monitoring instruments to collect data (e.g. observations,survey, interviews): Data is collected to find out what isactually being delivered to clients or targets. The purposeis to identify gaps between the policy on paper (design) andthe policy in action.

Designate responsibility for data collection, storage and analysis: Ensurethat there is no ambiguity about what information is to becollected, who is responsible for collecting it or how it isto be collected, stored and analyzed.

Develop information system capacities: Information systems mayconsist of written forms and records that are filed, orfully computerized data entry and storage systems.

Develop mechanism to provide feedback to staff, client and stakeholders:Depending on the results of monitoring analyses, it may benecessary to make adjustments either to what is being done(policy in action) or to the intended design (policy onpaper).

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Initiating the Policy Plan Planning for failure: Exaggerated goals can hasten

implementation failure. Planning for success: On-going reassessment, learning and

revision are crucial elements of successful interventions.Four tasks increase chances of success: (1) communicationwith stakeholders, (2) building internal capacities forleading and learning, (3) studying information about policyperformance, and (4) increasing the fit between needs andcharacteristics of the environment and capacities of thepolicy.

Learning and adapting: Interventions, their organizations andsurrounding environments change over time, and successfulinterventions must adapt to change by consciously tailoringthe policy.

The tasks of implementation: Plans from stages in the policyhave be finally implemented. This will involve many things:Initiating the Design; Initiating the Action Plan;Monitoring Policy Implementation; and Evaluating andProviding Feedback to Users and Stakeholders,(Welsh,1999:157, 211).

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PART THREE

FUNCTIONS, COMPOSITION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE NPFThe Nigeria Police Force being committed to promoting the safetyand security of members of the community within a supportive andaccessible living working environment shall have its functionsoutlined by the policy. Hence, the functions, composition andactivities as stated in the 1999 Constitution, the CriminalProcedure Act, the Police Act, the Criminal Procedure Code,regional and international instruments shall guide the Policy.

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PART FOURPERSONNEL FOR NPF

RecruitmentThere shall be educated, intelligent, able-bodied, agile, fit,honest and hardworking persons to work in the Force. All personsto be employed must be screened and vetted. A person must bephysically fit and morally upright. All person(s) to berecruited must be able to fluently communicate in English andmust possess a reasonable sense of judgment. TrainingAll persons employed in the NPF must be given the appropriatetraining for the job they are expected to perform. The trainingcan be formal and on the-the-job.

Induction CourseThis must be organized for all personnel of the NPF with a viewto orientating or guiding them in the discharge of their initialperiod of professional career.

Conferences/Workshops/SeminarsOfficers and some selected personnel of the NPF must, from timeto time, attend Conferences/Workshop or Seminars relevant totheir fields in order to be give them the opportunity to enhanceperformance.Discipline Cases of indiscipline or rudeness by NPF personnel must beproperly reported and addressed. To forestall indiscipline,regular lectures/counseling must be given after which all casesof discipline must be taken very seriously.

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PART FIVE

LOGISTICS AND CONTROL STRATEGIESUniforms and Other AccessoriesAll Personnel of the NPF on duty must be in full uniform. Thosein the Intelligence Unit can be an exception. Hence, as a matterof policy bullet-proof vests, masks, shield guards, boots, torchlight, raincoats, berets, winter clothing, etc are to be issuedregularly. Vehicles Vehicles, motorcycles and such other means of mobility foreffective routine duty shall be covered by the Policy. Theseitems must be modern, serviced regularly and replaced as the needarises.

Vehicle Accident ReportingAll cases of accidents must be reported to the Police TransportOfficer within 24 hours. This is to maintain liability protectionand availability to police employees.

CommunicationThe NPF must be provided with state-of-the-art communicationgadgets that shall be updated and/or replaced as appropriate.

Guards and PatrolsAll NPF engaged in guards, patrols and such other duties shallconform to the Police Code of Ethics and other documents statedby national laws and domesticated international conventions.

Community Policing All NPF personnel shall be acquainted with the principles,philosophy and objectives of community policing. Beingparticipatory in nature, this form of policing needs the support

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of all stakeholders: the NPF; members of the public; PolicePublic Relations Committees; professional bodies, organizedlabour; community and opinion leaders; the internationalcommunity, etc. Community policing will be more relevant if thename Nigeria Police Force is replaced with Nigeria PoliceService.

Access Control/Management The NPF shall develop a national policy of having access toespecially key places, areas and strategic national assets andinfrastructure. All restricted areas shall be designated“RESTRICTED” in which case only authorized persons can access thearea (s).

Visitor(s) to Key Assets, Infrastructures and Strategic PlacesThe NPF shall develop a policy on vetting, screening andidentifying anybody that will visit Nigeria’s key assets,infrastructures and strategic places like airports, seaports,railway stations, power stations, dams, government houses,military and para-military formations, etc. WorkmenIt shall be a policy of the NPF that people offering services(either mental or physical) are bound by the rules andregulations agreed upon between the NPF and the other party.

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PART SIXDUTY GENERAL BY NPF

The Policy should clearly state: Handing/taking over duty; Security of buildings/offices; Security at car parks/motorcycles parking lots; Arrests of citizens, foreigners, animals, etc; Detention of citizens, foreigners, animals, etc; Investigation of Cases; Liaison With Other Security Agencies Physical Security Precautions; Fencing; Lighting; Alarm System; Fire and Smoke Detection Alarm; Intrusion Alarm; Close Circuit Television (CCTV); Fire Extinguishers; National, Regional, State or LGA Security Survey Report; Safety and Physical Security Requirements; Police Security Advisory Committees; Violence Prevention; Cases of Missing Person (s); Juvenile Offenders; Rearing of and Stray Animals; Offences under the law; Civil Disobedience, Demonstrations and Protests; Strike Actions by personnel of NPF; Safety and Security Programmes; Terrorism and guerilla warfare; Emergency Preparedness and Response; Contingency Operation Plan; Distress Calls; Crowd Control and the Proliferation of Social Activities;

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National Identity Card and Passport; Periodic Review of the Security Policy; Duty Instructions Within the NPF; Questioning and Interrogation: Torture, Force, Self-

defense; Respect For Human Rights

CONCLUSIONThis presentation made efforts to examine the essential elements

and ingredients of a national policy on security and safety for a

smooth operation of the NPF. The presentation began with the

theoretical elements of a policy and ended with certain practical

issues that must form the components of a policy. Although not

exhaustive, the basic issues that a policy must contend with have

been highlighted.

These included policy focus and concerns; analyzing the problem

the policy intends to address; setting goals and objectives;

designing the policy; developing an action plan; developing a

plan for monitoring policy implementation; developing a plan for

evaluating outcomes; initiating the policy design; questioning

and interrogation; torture, force, self-defense; respect for

human rights; monitoring and evaluation of the Policy; policy

review, etc.

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REEFERENCES

Bellany, I “Towards a Theory of International Security”,Political Studies, Vol. 29, No. 1,1981, p. 102.

Imobighe, T.A “Threat Assessment”, A Lecture delivered atNational War College Abuja, 16 January 1998.

McNamara, R.S ‘The Essence of Security: Conflict and Interventionin Africa,’ (New York: Free Press, 1956), p. 141.)

Onuoha, A, ‘‘From Conflict to Collaboration: Building Peace in Nigeria’s Oil Producing Communities’’ Published by Adonis and Abbey Publishers Ltd,

2005 http//www.adonis-abbey.com p. 91

Paskins, V “Security in a New Age?” in M Clarke (eds) NewPerspectives on Security, (London: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1993), p.16.

Radda, S.I (2010) “A Theoretical Discourse on Social Problems” inIssues in

Nigeria’s Social Problems, By Radda, S.I, M.Lawan and M.Muktar,2010,

p 1 – 21.Radda, S.I, and R.S. Shatsari (2011) “Criminal Investigation inNigeria: Principles and Practice” (Eds).Welsh, W.N (1999) Criminal Justice Policy & Planning (AndersonPublishing Co. Cincinnati, OH, USA).

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