Professor Akin Ibidapo-Obe has called on the police authorities to recruit more women into the force, noting that the current gender ratio is unacceptable.
Ibidapo-Obe who is The Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at a seminar and book launch as part of the 11 Biennial Police Games and Week 2016.
In a lecture on: “General Principles of International Human Rights Standards for Modern Police Practice,” he said police women are better suited to handle domestic crimes like rape, child abuse among other issues.
Ibidapo-Obe said: “Police should increase the population of women because they could better handle issues that have to do with children, domestic matters and rape cases.
He bemoaned that: “I learnt that the ratio of men to women in the police is 1:4, this needs to be improved.”
He added that: “Police have done well in protecting rights of children, especially in Lagos, but this should be broadened to include all the federation.”
“Juvenile rights should be protected; children shouldn’t be locked up with hardened criminals,” he said.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase said policing in a democratic setting imposed a sacred legal obligation of respect for citizens’ rights on law enforcement agents.
He said the theme of the seminar: “International Human Rights Standards and Trends in Community-Driven Policing,” is important in driving the new vision of intelligence led policing.
Arase said a compendium entitled “Nigeria Police Force (1861 – 2016): Establishment Profile,” also launched yesterday documented the nearly 145 years history of the Nigeria Police and recognized the strategic police actors that have guided the force.
He also stated that the protocols in the “Operational Manual of International Human Rights Protocols and Guidelines’ developed for the police, would serve the intended purpose of locating police operations within global human rights and professional dictates.
Arase said the protocols, cover police investigation, police arrest, and police detention, use of force and firearms, management of civil disorder and protection of juveniles.
He added the protection of women, protection of victims of crime and abuse of power, police command and management, community policing, and policing in a Constitutional democracy.
