Filming police officer on duty is not a crime, says AIG

The Assistant Inspector General, AIG, of Police, Zone 6, Kamaldeen kola Okunlola says there’s no crime in filming a police officer while performing his duty.

Speaking during a familiarisation visit of the Cross River state Police Command Headquarters in Diamond Hill, Calabar, on Thursday, Okunlola said citizens have the right to capture the activities of police officers in video, noting that such action is within the ambit of the law.

He debunked the widespread notion that a citizen filming a police officer while on duty has committed a crime

The AIG cautioned police officers to desist from the act of stopping a citizen from recording them while performing their duty adding that it was not a crime at all.

He called on officers to be more humane, and friendly with their neighbours, the citizenry they protect instead and avoid harassing them in any form.

“We must be humane and close to the public, and not when you want to extort money you turn to a tyrant and oppress innocent citizens all that must stop, you must treat people right, because you are there for them.

“You must not take side in any matter do your job and be friendly to all parties in any matter you are handling, you must not be biased at all, Let the fear of God be your watchword, without the people in the community, we can’t make succeed,” he said.

Speaking further the 30th AIG of Zone 6, Calabar, warned officers not to hobnob with Politicians and in the process become political stressing that they must uphold the highest level of professionalism and discipline as they carry out their duties.

He also urged them to study the electoral laws with a view to understanding their roles, modus operandi as provided by the law so that they can be on the right side of the law while also discharging their duties during the dirty coming General Elections come 2023.

He assured that there would constant work towards the progress of the zone while promising an improved welfare to officers and men which he said was a gradual process that will soon become a reality.