By Tina Amanda
The Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council has conducted a one-day sensitization exercise to train police officers on ethical standards and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
The training, held at the Trans-Amadi Police Division in Port Harcourt, aimed to equip investigating police officers with knowledge of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Rivers State.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary of the Council and Chief Magistrate, Illanye Brown, emphasized the importance of understanding and implementing the updated provisions of the law.
She noted that some officers lack adequate knowledge of the rules governing the ACJL, stating: the sensitization focuses on the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State.
“There are new aspects introduced in the law that we believe officers may not be aware of due to the nature of their work. With the support of the Commissioner of Police, we are sensitizing officers area command by area command to create awareness and ensure compliance.
“It is no longer business as usual, we need to create that awareness you can not give what you do not have.
It is not appropriate for the suspect to be detained for more than forty-eight (48) hours. We have to unlearn certain things we have been used to over the years.
“That’s the essence of this sensitization, sensitize them on those practices that are not in line with the law and tell them the right thing to do.”
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Brown highlighted critical areas, such as the need to avoid detaining suspects for more than 48 hours and adopting practices in line with the law.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Trans-Amadi, CSP Primza Jonathan, noted that some of the practices highlighted in the training are already being implemented at the division.
“These constant training sessions are essential. They remind us of the correct procedures in investigations, and we ensure compliance with any observations made by the attached magistrate regarding our processes.”
Participating police officers expressed their gratitude for the training, stating that it deepened their understanding of ethical practices and the legal framework governing their duties.
According to them, they now have a clearer understanding of the proper procedures, from receiving complaints to conducting arrests. Noting they are committed to implementing what they have learned to ensure that criminal justice processes are upheld and cases are not dismissed due to procedural lapses.
The Council reiterated its commitment to continuous training to ensure that law enforcement officers uphold professionalism and adhere strictly to the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
