IMPROVEMENT: Police to make data of criminals available to other agencies

ALL security agencies in the country will henceforth have access to data of criminals and related activities from the Nigerian police.
Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who announced this at the launching of the National Central Bureau (NCB) headquarters, Abuja, said that the centre would enable designated officers have direct access to three major Interpol data bases.
He said: “these are normal data, stolen and lost travel documents and stolen motor vehicles.”
According to him, Interpol focuses primarily on public safety and terrorism, crimes against humanity, environmental crime, genocide, war crimes, organised crime, piracy, illicit traffic in works of art, illicit drug production, drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, child pornography, white-collar crime, computer crime, intellectual property crime, and corruption.
He noted that on assumption of office, he avowed, among other commitments, to ensure public safety and security of all Nigerians and foreigners domiciled in the country through strategic and integrated partnership with other law enforcement agencies.
“Part of my policy thrust is also hinged on improving the Force personnel capacities in intelligence gathering, criminal profiling, data analysis, research, forensic analysis and capacity building.”
The police boss said that adequate collaboration and synergy is required amongst all relevant stakeholders in the country to checkmate the nefarious activities of criminals and in the fight against transnational organised crime.
“To checkmate crimes and criminal element, one pivotal instrument designed to actualise this vision is the expansion and extension of Interpol access to other national law enforcement entities at strategic locations such as border crossings, airports, customs and immigration posts.
“This expansion, when fully implemented, will enable frontline officers direct access to three major Interpol databases; nominal data, stolen and lost travel documents and stolen motor vehicles.”
He added that “this will allow an airport immigration officer detect a passport presented by a traveller as having been reported as stolen; enable a Custom officer at the border to conduct search of a Vehicles Identification Number (VIN) or chassis number to determine whether the car has been reported as stolen; and alert national authorities on wanted persons who may be attempting to enter the country by air or sea.”
He noted that the bureau was established to fully access the Interpol high infrastructure of technical and operational support to meet growing challenges posed by criminals and other transnational crimes within the West African sub-region.
“I strongly believe that with other law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments keying into this concept, it will allow us achieve greater results in riding off criminals from our society and allow for influx of trade and investments in the country.”
Commissioner of Police in charge of Interpol, Olushola Zubair, explained that the upgrade and planned extension to other agencies are key as Interpol database is one of the most vital and robust source of intelligence and security.
“This centre will enable frontline officers query the Interpol databases alongside the national databases in real time without the targets knowing and also help to populate wanted persons who may be attempting to enter the country, dangerous persons and missing person.”

Source: Tribuneonlineng.com