OVERVIEW  -  Community Service Directorate

Introduction

Community Services Directorate (CSD) was created to allow formation of several units and crime prevention schemes which were to be used as vessels on which services from the Police to the community and vice versa was to flow. It was, in other words, created to bridge the gap that existed in the past years between the institution and the members of the public. This initiative followed a realization that close relationship and involvement of members of the public in policing was key to the effective fight of crime.

This CSD was therefore created through a Parliamentary Amendment Act number 14 of 1999. It was important to create such an entity so that many gaps which existed in the one party regime were addressed

COMPOSITION OF CSD

• VICTIM SUPPORT UNIT
• SCHOOLS LIAISON UNIT
• COMMUNITY SAFETY UNIT
• CHAPLAINCY UNIT
• CHILD PROTECTION

UNIT DEFINATIONS

VICTIM SUPPORT UNIT (VSU)

Victim Support Unit is one of the Units under CSD which is mandated to Investigate, Arrest and prosecute all cases involving and committed against Spouse, Women, Children and the aged.

The Unit also providescounseling to both victims and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence(GBV) andother crimes.

It also creates awareness in the community on the prevention of GBV offences

The unit is mandated to partner with other stakeholders in fighting the GBV

SCHOOLS LIAISON UNIT (SLU)

Schools Liaison Unit is a Unit in or under CSD which is mandated to providing security education and sensitization programmes to children and young people in institutions of learning. This is done from kinder garden to tertiary education

Children and other young people that are not in institutions of learning are met at strategic places such as markets, bus stations, churches, public eating places and many other places as the case may be according to the area.

COMMUNITY SAFETY UNIT (CSU)

Community Safety Unit is a unit in CSD that sit with the community and together formulate better ideas and methods of policing a specific community.

These communities can be Villages, Compounds or Commercial centers.

The Unit also trains and assists in the formation and strengthening of community crime prevention ventures such as Neighborhood Watch Associations and Community Policing Schemes

This Unit has Community Liaison Officers who are always willing to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the community e.g. the poor, elderly, children, women, displaced, and disabled people as these are more likely to be victimized and less likely to take protective measures. : These are supposed to provide a liaison between police and the community to prevent crime.

It is supposed to conduct motorized and foot patrols in the communities so as to secure communities.

The unit does facilitate the formation of Community Police Posts.

 CHAPLAINCY UNIT

Chaplaincy Unit is a unit in or under CSD that is mandated to administer to Police officers and their families on spiritual matters.

Chaplaincy also helps to rebuild Police officers so that they can understand their noble profession.

They also counsel perpetrators and victims of crimes including marital disputes

It supports sick Police officers and Civilian Staff by comforting them

Attends to Police Officers' funeral and wedding ceremonies

Attends to selected State ceremonies

CHILD PROTECTION

Recently created in a view to offer more accessibility to children’s issues and pay much attention to children’s problems. This role is handled by the Victim Support Unit though there is a feeling that VSU is overwhelmed with GBV cases and therefore gives little attention to children’s issues. Child Protection Unit solely looks at offences committed by and against children.

In conjunction with Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, it removes children from unsafe places to safe places.

IDEALLY, ALL THE ABOVE UNITS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOUND AT ALL POLICE STATIONS AND POSTS