About us - PCRC Rivers Official Website

// About PCRC

PCRC - Police Community
Relations Committee

The PCRC is the baseline of community policing in Nigeria and is an association of policemen and civilians where members are carefully selected and each member must be of impeccable character, credible of proven integrity, transparent and honest, they are men and women with patrotic zeal who are ready to render selfless service voluntarily to the police and the public.

The PCRC was formed as a response of various initiatives of the police and the government to make the police more people friendly and is the brainchild of Mr. Etim Inyang, a former Inspector-General of Police whose vision of community-based policing, where every community is part of the security business of the society, created the PCRC on May 8th, 1984. The aim was to forge harmonious working relationship and understanding between the police and the community

A PCRC member is a police partner and not a police informant and as such is a part of the police business.

Nature and Purpose of PCRC

The PCRC is a formal security organ instituted by the police. It is a para-security association that can be described as non-profit/non-governmental association with sole aim to promote police-community colaboration in order to address the safety and security needs of the community.

The PCRC was formed to build bridges between the police and the public. The police is expected and encouraged to treat people with respect and human feelings without compromising the integrity of their duties, including investigations.

Structure of the PCRC

There are five (5) levels of the PCRC in Nigeria:

The National Council with its Secretariat at the Federal Capital Territory
The Zonal Command with its Zonal head office at any state capital where Police Zonal Office Headquarters is located
The State Command with its State head office at the State capital Police Command Headquarters
The Area Command with its office within the jurisdiction of the Area Command
The Divisional Chapters with its office also within the jurisdition of the Division

Meetings are held in all the commands and divisions at least once every month, except at the national level where meetings are held once every 3 months or quarterly. The PCRC is a non-profit organization and is funded by the government, donations, and membership dues and other memorabilia.

The state PCRC is the apex at the state level and it gives policy directions and coordinates programs and activities of the PCRC in the state. The Area Command is the next level of the PCRC and it is the operational arm of the PCRC at the Area Command level. The Divisional Chapters are the grassroots level of the PCRC and they are the operational arm of the PCRC at the Divisional level.

The Area Command and the Divisions are the direct responsibility of the State Command although according to policing priority needs, they are free to design their own programs to respond to the needs of the community and the police in their areas. However, meetings and functions of the State and National Council take preceedence over every other divisional activities.

PCRC Stand on Corruption

PCRC abhors corruption and is deeply committed to promoting best ethical standards and practices. Article 21 of the PCRC Constitution is designed to enlighten members on this stand.

PCRC Stand on Politics

The Police Community Relations Committee is not a political Organization and shall never be transformed into a political party. However, members are at liberty to join political associations of their choice.

Functions of The PCRC

To discuss crime issues and other security matters within their area of jurisdiction.

To assist the police screen all local guards, including vigilante groups operating in their area.

To assist the police in the control and supervision of guards in their community.

To report all act of misconduct by policemen.

To report the presence of suspicious characters in the community to the police.

To report known criminals, haborers of criminals, receivers of stolen goods or items to the police.

To recommend good members of the community to the police authorities for employment as and when the occassion demands.

To acquiant the public with professional operations of police activities and provide ways for the citizens to provide improvement in police. service delivery and operations.

To mobilize all available human and material resources towards enhancing the operation efficiency of the police.

To seek for peace, mutual understanding and co-existence among various ethnic and religious groups within the society.

To establish and maintain honorary traffic and regulation units that shall voluntarily assist the traffic police personnel and traffic warden in tackling traffic jams and upholding it at anytime.

To discuss issues relating to the safety and security of lives and properties by collecting security reports from members from various divisions.

To create opportunities for members of the public to interact with the police with a view to solving community problems

Aims and Objectives of PCRC

Partnership with Police

To partner with the police towards understanding and cordial relationship with the public, especically in safety and crime prevention.

Combating Crime

To assist the Nigeria Police in combating crime and criminality in the society through intelligence gathering and information sharing on criminals and criminal activities within the neigbourhood and to also offer logistics assistance to the Police.

Empowerment and Awareness

To periodically organise seminars, conferences and workshops that will empower members with crime prevention strategies and intelligence gathering techniques.

Scouting and Recommendation

To scout for and recommend credible and reliable individuals to seek a career with the Nigerian police force.

Communication Bridge

To provide a forum through which members of the community and the police cna discuss how to arrange and supervice common humanitarian or vigilante groups.

Conflict Appraisal

To Identify anything in whatsoever form or shape that mmay cause police/public friction, appraise the situation and suggest ways or means to remedy same.

Active Participation

To actively participate in all Nigerian police programs that have direct bearing on community policing and render all necessary assistance in the overall interest of the safety and security of lives and properties.

Contribution Towards Safety

To constantly liase with stakeholders i.e. the supervising ministry of police affairs, police service commission, and the police high command; in order to provide quality service towards a safe neighbourhood.