Today the 17th of June, 2025, was a symbolic day at the Police Officers’ Mess, Old GRA Port-Harcourt as the Rivers State Chapters of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) rolled out a special training session for Officers and Men of the Rivers State Police Command to enhance their capacity through a comprehensive paralegal training program. This initiative underscores the commitment of both organizations to promoting effective law enforcement and access to justice in the State.
The training, which focuses on key areas such as:
- The Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Rivers State,
- Dehumanizing and Harmful Traditional Practices Laws,
- Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Rights to Share in Family Property Law,
- Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law amongst others.
The training session was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju psc, mnips, and his management team, aims to equip Police Officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to discharge their duties efficiently and professionally in line with recent laws and amendments.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, emphasized the importance of capacity building for Police Officers, highlighting the need for continuous training and development to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in law enforcement. The training is expected to improve the landscape of Police Officers’ ability to handle cases and interact with the public in a more informed manner, he said.
Also speaking at the event was the Chairperson of FIDA Rivers State Chapter, Life Jim George who noted that the paralegal is where we bring together both retired Police Officers, Desk Officers and Gender Based Crime Officers in the various Divisions to remind them again of the training they have gotten, how to deal with the abused public, how to deal with reporters of all kinds of Gender Based Violence.
“They need to be empathetic, they need not to judge them as they move into them. They need not to throw them away immediately or to make the atmosphere very toxic so that they will just go away and at the end of the day extort them and make known that Police is not your friend is only in the book”.
The training covers topics that are crucial in addressing emerging trends of criminality and ensuring that Police Officers are well versed in the laws and regulations that governs their work. Participants were encouraged to share their knowledge from the training with their colleagues and incorporate it into their daily duties to enhance public trust and confidence in the Police and foster collaboration with relevant legal agencies.
This collaborative effort between PCRC and FIDA is a significant step towards strengthening the relationship between the Police and the Community, and promoting a more effective and responsive law enforcement system in Rivers State.
SP GRACE IRINGE-KOKO, ANIPR,
Police Public Relations Officer,
Rivers State Police Command
