In a bid to effectively police the state and rid both upland and the riverine communities of crime and criminality, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba has said that democratic policing would be the guiding principle under his watch.
This, Amba said while briefing journalists in Yenagoa.
He pointed that the prevailing crime in the state are, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, rape, chieftaincy tussle and community disputes; and that high powered consultation has begun with various stakeholders with a view to establish functional community policing geared to embrace members of the community for better results.
The State Police Boss, averred that international standard and human right principles would be deplore in policing the state, distress calls would be responded to in order to restore public confidence in the force.
Amba emphasized that professionalism and compassion would be upheld in the discharge of their duties, while the anti-robbery squad, x-squad and provost marshal department would be profiled and invigorated.
The Police Boss posited that the command would improve on the achievements of his predecessor, such as arrest of armed robbers and recovery of firearms, arrest of suspects for unlawful possession of firearms at AIT Elebele road, arrest of kidnappers of 15years old Anthonia Odoki amongst others.
He said useful information was given by the culprits to track other gang at large, while investigation is ongoing.
Amba averred that in compliance with the Inspector General of Police stands, intelligent gathering would be given priority, as well as training and re-training of officers and men of the force towards imbibing the new direction, which is democratic policing of the state.
He extolled Governor Seriake Dickson for providing four APC to improve the operation of the state command and the initiative that police should be deploy to schools in the state to forestall cases of abduction of students.
Amba said the command would post security operatives in mufti to secure both private and public schools in the state.
The Police Boss reiterated that advocacy would be carried to schools through the office of the Police Public Relation Officer to discourage students from engaging in cultism and other social vices.
He submitted that any police found culpable of corrupt practice would be dismissed, pointing that bail is free, warned against road block, escorting contraband goods, such as bunkering and stolen national assets.
On the one day strike of tricycle operators, Amba said the police would enforce government directive to identify only three associations, while others would be encouraged to register before the January deadline; and those that deliberately took laws into their hands to stage protest would be arrested.