Policemen should be sanctioned for not picking calls – AIG

The new Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, Bala Hassan, says any Divisional Police Officer and Area Commander in the habit of not pick their calls should be sanctioned.

Hassan, at his maiden chat with journalists on Monday in his office, said phone numbers of senior police officers should be made available to members of the public to report crime or give information.

He said, “So, any DPO or Area Commander that refuses to pick his calls is not fit to be in that position.

“The Commissioners of Police in Lagos and Ogun states, the DPOs and Area Commanders have been told to always pick their calls. Soon, there will be boards displaying emergency numbers through which the public can reach the police.”

Hassan said his plan was to make sure that there was an improvement in crime control in Ogun and Lagos states during the period he would be in charge, stressing that he was working in tandem with the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase’s agenda and zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt officers.

On Boko Haram, Hassan said, “We have detectives from the Zonal Intelligence Bureau, who are in plain clothes, combing different areas. People of questionable characters will be prevented from coming into the states.”

The AIG said the ‘Safer Highway Scheme,’ which was inaugurated by the IG, would put an end to accidental discharge, since the policemen attached to it were expected not to have more contact with members of the public.

“We also want to improve on community policing to reduce crime. I will meet with Commissioners of Police to see ways to tackle robbery in traffic jam and other crimes.

“But there are two ways we are already using to tackle robbery in traffic. The visibility of policemen on the highway and making sure that there is free traffic flow.”

Speaking on pipeline vandalism and the recurring killing of policemen by suspected vandals, Hassan said he hoped that members of the community of such volatile areas would help the police to get the vandals.

(Punch)