The Police Command in Oyo State in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) have called for integration of modern forensic practices into policing method to ensure effective
By Olatunde Ajayi
The Police Command in Oyo State in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) have called for integration of modern forensic practices into policing method to ensure effective gender crime investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police, Johnson Adenola, made the call at a day capacity building on forensics in gender specific crime investigation and prosecution.
The programme was jointly sponsored by Savingcross Justicepoint Foundation (SJF) and Living World Mission(LIWOM) for selected police officers.
The CP, while declaring the workshop open, in Ibadan, said that integration of modern forensic practices into policing method would empower personnel to serve with excellence, integrity and professionalism.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that forensics is a scientific tests or techniques used to detect and solve crimes.
The theme of the workshop was: “Forensics: the Path to Effective Gender Specific Crime Investigation and Prosecution”.
Adenola noted that importance of forensics science in criminal investigation remains paramount.
He added that forensic evidence has proven to be instrumental in solving crimes, especially, gender specific ones.
According to him, leveraging on forensic tools and techniques can substantially enhance investigation and prosecution outcome.
“The theme of the training resonates deeply with our administration’s commitment to enhancing our policing capabilities.
“Our eight point strategic plan as highlighted in my inaugural speech prioritises enhancing police capacity through training and development.
“This initiative aim to modernise and professionalise our policing practices with a focus on enhancing investigative skills as facts to ensure justice, safety and security for all citizens, “he said.
The training facilitor, Dr Uwom Eze, a Forensic Pathologist and Clinical Forensic Physician University College Hospital(UCH), Ibadan said that many cases died in the court because the evidences were not credible on technical grounds or due to contamination of evidence.
He urged gender desk officers to align with modern approach to address sexual violence issues so that citizens would have confidence of their privacy in the hands of police officer handling their case.
He noted that attitude and approach of officers must not further traumatise victims.
Earlier, the Executive Director, SJF, Mrs Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo, said the foundation sponsored the workshop to promote justice, dignity and protect the vulnerable, especially women, children and survivors of violence.
“We believe that justice begins not just in the courtroom but from the very first point of contact which often time, are the police officers.
“This training is designed to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement to conduct trauma-informed investigations, apply forensic tools responsibly and uphold the rights and dignity of juvenile offenders and survivors throughout the justice process.
“At Savingcross Justicepoint foundation, we believe that a justice system that listens, protects and empowers is not just ideal, but a possibility.
“And we are honoured to partner with the Nigerian Police to move one step closer to that reality,” she said.
Similarly, the Country Lead, LIWOM, Mr Marcus Williams, said that most times, some of the evidences for prosecution of alleged sexual offender is lost while some prosecutorial strength get destroyed because officers handling the case did not know right thing to do.
“Forensics helps during investigation into the cause of a particular case, prevent violence against persons and identify who to prosecute.
“We believe that the training will bring synergy and collaborative environment where all the impediments and bottlenecks against efforts to get justice for victims of sexual violence will be taken out completely, “he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)