DECENTRALISE THE POLICE SERVICE-Chief Superintendent David Eklu
The Distict Commander of the Madina Police Station, Chief Superintendent David Eklu has called for the need to build the capacity of the local police by providing them with the appropriate logistics and equipment that would enable them handle investigations to meet the needs of the community.
He said, this could be achieved through a true democratic policing strategy in which the District and Local Assemblies if properly funded by the government, would consult with the local police to help them combat crime.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Chief Superintendent Eklu said if the District Assemblies were properly fund, they would be able to provide them with the needed logistics and equipment, adding that this would go a long way in preventing them from relying solely on the Police Headquarters for support in order to handle sophisticated crime scenes in their various localities.
He told the Daily Graphic that the Madina District Command provided law enforcement services for residents in and around the Madina District which was a highly populated area of about 1,700 inhabitants as recorded by the the 2000 population census.
Chief Superintendent Eklu said unfortunately, the Madina District Police lacked a robust police force which made it difficult for them to ensure that law and order in and around the Madina District was operational.
He said one of the major challenges facing the District Police was mobility, adding that, as at the end of 2010, there was no official vehicle, thus making it difficult for them to embark on polce operations, adding that, there had been instances where they had to rely on commercial vehicles which were not appropriate for embarking on police operations.
He added that another problem was the lack of communication gadgets, adding that, besides the main District command, all the other police stations which fell under their jurisdiction did not have adequate communication gadgets, thus causing police personnel who went on patrols to use their mobile phones during operations.
He said presently, the District Command had a total staff strength of 90 police officers who provided police services to over 1700 residents, adding that, "this clearly shows a huge gap ratio between police officers and residents".
Chief Superintendent Eklu stated that, detectives at the District Command who were responsible for investigating cases, were also responsible for night patrols, adding that, "this impedes investigation processes since they are over stretched at the end of the day since there have been times when we have to run shifts in groups for a week".
He further mentioned that, the Distric Command was also faced with office accomodation problems which had caused officers to be cramped in one office.
He stated that, as at the end of each month in 2010, they were able to record at least 700 cases, but due to the crowding in the offices, it was difficult to establish confidentiallity between the police and the civilian.
He said, however, notwithstanding the difficulties being faced by the District Command, they had not relented their efforts in providing policing services to the District.
Chief Superintendent Eklu told Daily Graphic that the District Command which was established not more than 10 years ago had over stretched its cells which had four compartments to remand not more than 10 suspected criminals, was now serving three other stations; the Divisional Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).
He complained that this had caused an overcrowding at the cells, causing a pungent smell to emanate from the place.
He stated however, that the District Command had managed to establish a monitoring mechanism with the Madina courts in order for them to settle cases timely, and if there was the need for suspects to be remanded, they were transfered to the Nsawam prisons in order to prevent overcrowding at the cells.
Chief Superintendent Eklu further told Daily Graphic that as at the end of 2010, 48 female suspected criminals were arrested by the District Command for various offences.
He said, there had been a reduction as per 2009, when the Command arrested 51 female suspected criminals.
He, however, said the number of male suspected criminals who were arrested in 2010 was not diffrent from that of 2009 since the same number of 174 suspects were arrested during both years.
Chief Superintendent Eklu also disclosed to Daily Graphic that as the end of 2010, 3278 crimes were reported at the District Command, adding that, there was a reduction in crime reported cases as compared to 2009 when 4237 cases were reported.
He added that, altough they had seen a reduction, it was not an indication that crimes had reduced in the district, rather it was due to the lack of trust, transparency and confidence that citizens had in the police in handling cases.
He added that, despite the challenges that was faced by the District Command in 2010, they had succeeded in prosecuting 933 suspected criminals as compared to 2009 when they succeeded in prosecuting 649 suspected criminals.
Chief Superintendent Eklu said, they had put in efforts to have community engagements with various stakeholders, by educating them on how they could support the police by helping them in investigations and reporting criminal activiteies to them, adding that, they had also been able to educate them on the new trends and methods that were being used by criminals.
He therefore called on the community to establish a cordial relationship with the Police and build confidence in them by reporting cases to them, since they were there to ensure their safety.
He said, this could be achieved through a true democratic policing strategy in which the District and Local Assemblies if properly funded by the government, would consult with the local police to help them combat crime.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Chief Superintendent Eklu said if the District Assemblies were properly fund, they would be able to provide them with the needed logistics and equipment, adding that this would go a long way in preventing them from relying solely on the Police Headquarters for support in order to handle sophisticated crime scenes in their various localities.
He told the Daily Graphic that the Madina District Command provided law enforcement services for residents in and around the Madina District which was a highly populated area of about 1,700 inhabitants as recorded by the the 2000 population census.
Chief Superintendent Eklu said unfortunately, the Madina District Police lacked a robust police force which made it difficult for them to ensure that law and order in and around the Madina District was operational.
He said one of the major challenges facing the District Police was mobility, adding that, as at the end of 2010, there was no official vehicle, thus making it difficult for them to embark on polce operations, adding that, there had been instances where they had to rely on commercial vehicles which were not appropriate for embarking on police operations.
He added that another problem was the lack of communication gadgets, adding that, besides the main District command, all the other police stations which fell under their jurisdiction did not have adequate communication gadgets, thus causing police personnel who went on patrols to use their mobile phones during operations.
He said presently, the District Command had a total staff strength of 90 police officers who provided police services to over 1700 residents, adding that, "this clearly shows a huge gap ratio between police officers and residents".
Chief Superintendent Eklu stated that, detectives at the District Command who were responsible for investigating cases, were also responsible for night patrols, adding that, "this impedes investigation processes since they are over stretched at the end of the day since there have been times when we have to run shifts in groups for a week".
He further mentioned that, the Distric Command was also faced with office accomodation problems which had caused officers to be cramped in one office.
He stated that, as at the end of each month in 2010, they were able to record at least 700 cases, but due to the crowding in the offices, it was difficult to establish confidentiallity between the police and the civilian.
He said, however, notwithstanding the difficulties being faced by the District Command, they had not relented their efforts in providing policing services to the District.
Chief Superintendent Eklu told Daily Graphic that the District Command which was established not more than 10 years ago had over stretched its cells which had four compartments to remand not more than 10 suspected criminals, was now serving three other stations; the Divisional Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).
He complained that this had caused an overcrowding at the cells, causing a pungent smell to emanate from the place.
He stated however, that the District Command had managed to establish a monitoring mechanism with the Madina courts in order for them to settle cases timely, and if there was the need for suspects to be remanded, they were transfered to the Nsawam prisons in order to prevent overcrowding at the cells.
Chief Superintendent Eklu further told Daily Graphic that as at the end of 2010, 48 female suspected criminals were arrested by the District Command for various offences.
He said, there had been a reduction as per 2009, when the Command arrested 51 female suspected criminals.
He, however, said the number of male suspected criminals who were arrested in 2010 was not diffrent from that of 2009 since the same number of 174 suspects were arrested during both years.
Chief Superintendent Eklu also disclosed to Daily Graphic that as the end of 2010, 3278 crimes were reported at the District Command, adding that, there was a reduction in crime reported cases as compared to 2009 when 4237 cases were reported.
He added that, altough they had seen a reduction, it was not an indication that crimes had reduced in the district, rather it was due to the lack of trust, transparency and confidence that citizens had in the police in handling cases.
He added that, despite the challenges that was faced by the District Command in 2010, they had succeeded in prosecuting 933 suspected criminals as compared to 2009 when they succeeded in prosecuting 649 suspected criminals.
Chief Superintendent Eklu said, they had put in efforts to have community engagements with various stakeholders, by educating them on how they could support the police by helping them in investigations and reporting criminal activiteies to them, adding that, they had also been able to educate them on the new trends and methods that were being used by criminals.
He therefore called on the community to establish a cordial relationship with the Police and build confidence in them by reporting cases to them, since they were there to ensure their safety.
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