I
read recently in the papers that the Minister of interior wishes to change the
name of the Gambia Police Force to the Gambia Police Services. Prior to doing
so I would humbly suggest that we primarily work on improving the overall
standards and quality of our Police Force by:
• Doing a systems audit and assessment
of the police force in order to establish, the various needs to enable it
perform efficiently, including also the special training requirements to
enhance their literacy and numeracy standards to enable some of them follow
certain relevant and pertinent courses at the MDI and possibly the University
of The Gambia.
• Restructuring the force to ensure
proper and efficient service delivery, including regular patrols covering the
areas under the purview of their respective stations.
• Building their capacity in operating
in this “new democratic environment” where people’s rights are to be respected
and the public dealt with politely, bearing in mind that one of the major
principles of the Police Force is to “Keep the Peace”.
• Training them in public relations and
communication. When you visit certain countries, you are amazed by the courtesy
and politeness that the police approach you with, even though you may have
committed an infraction. Courtesy in approaching and dealing with people is an
important ingredient in service delivery to the public, hence the need to
support the police force in developing positive public relations qualities…
• Elaborating proper recruitment
standards and training procedures, and even establishing a “Police School” that
trains to degree level (certificate, diploma etc.), police recruits in various
specialities: Policing, Criminal Investigation, Prosecution, Traffic
Management, and Crowd Control etc. The Commonwealth can assist in this area as
it has done for several other counties…
The
above are just a drop in the ocean of what our security forces need in order to
perform efficiently and to an exemplary standard. Implementing these strategies
will require funds that are hard to come by, given the current situation we
find ourselves in. We therefore need to work hard in strengthening weaknesses
and instilling excellence in performance and especially service delivery; – The
change of name can come later, in due course, as a fitting emblem to what we
would have significantly achieved…
By
The Angel