As part of efforts to tackle crime through a bottom-top approach, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has inaugurated the State Community Policing Advisory Committee.

The committee, which was set up by the Federal Government through the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), is to begin the process of implementing community policing in the state.

While inaugurating the committee yesterday, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Dr. Makut Macham, quoting Lalong as saying that Plateau had longed for the implementation of the community policing initiative to fight criminality also said: “This is a welcome development for us as a state because we have since realised that the best way to guarantee the security of our people is by embracing a bottom-top approach, which emphasises early warning, intelligence gathering and crime prevention.

“With a grassroots and people-driven approach such as community policing, we are more likely to identify and fish out criminals, thereby saving the citizens from the agony associated with loss of lives and property.”

The committee has the Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, as chairman, while the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman, Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, is co-chairman.

Charging the committee to be focused and resolute in carrying out this assignment by shunning every distraction that could arise from religious, ethnic or political pressure, Lalong said the government and people of Plateau would also be looking up to the committee to act in the best interest of all as it concerns peace and security.

Commenting, the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Lawal Shehu, said the concept of community policing was to ensure that the people were involved in security affairs with more emphasis on intelligence.

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According to him, the special constables to be recruited would be people of good standing in the society who were gainfully engaged with good record within the community adding that they are not to take over from the police, but to collaborate with the police under their supervision and, as such, they will be thoroughly screened to ensure that criminals are not involved.

Assuring that the committee would be focused, the co-chairman lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the IGP, Mohammed Adamu, for their commitment to policing, in line with the federal system and constitution, which made governors chief security officers of their states.