Reforming the Police: Breaking Colonial Hangover for  a Modern Crime Fighting Force

By Emmanuel Uzo Obi

The legacy of colonialism in many nations extends beyond political and economic systems, deeply infiltrating the mindset and structure of essential institutions, such as police forces. Despite independence, colonial-era strategies of policing, rooted in oppression, surveillance, and control, continue to influence the training, orientation, and leadership of today’s law enforcement. As societies evolve, these colonial remnants within the police system create more harm than good, fostering inefficiency, abuse, and lack of public trust. The need for reforming police leadership is not just important, it’s urgent. This starts with rethinking their training systems, abolishing outdated, underfunded police colleges and introducing modern, accessible training academies. We can look to successful police reform initiatives in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom as models for change. The urgency of this reform cannot be overstated, and immediate ac on is necessary to prevent further harm.

The Colonial Hangover in Policing

Colonial police forces were designed not to serve and protect the local populace but to safeguard the interests of colonial powers. Their primary role was to suppress dissent, control populations, and enforce colonial laws that o en had li le concern for justice or equity. This approach led to an authoritarian, militaristic mindset in police leadership—a mindset that unfortunately persists today and continues to negatively impact the public.

In many post-colonial nations, policing continues to be viewed as an instrument of control rather than a service for the public good. Police leader training o en emphasizes discipline, hierarchy, and obedience over critical thinking, community engagement, and accountability. This creates a culture where police officers are disconnected from the communities they serve, focusing instead on rigid enforcement of the law without understanding its societal implications. It’s crucial for police to understand the impact of their actions on the community and to enforce laws in a way that respects the rights and dignity of all individuals. A significant shift towards community engagement in police training is necessary to benefit the public and ensure that the community is actively involved in shaping the future of policing, empowering them to contribute to a more just and equitable society. This shift in training focus is not just a recommendation, but a necessity for the modernization of the Nigerian police force.

The persistence of this colonial legacy in police leadership has had damaging consequences. Brutality, corruption, and inefficiency are frequently seen in police forces that have failed to shake off these authoritarian roots. Officers trained in outdated police colleges are not equipped to deal with the complex social dynamics of today’s world. Moreover, they need to gain the skills to incorporate modern technology and intelligence into their operations. If we are to create a police force that genuinely serves the people, this colonial mindset must be discarded. The urgency of this change is underscored by the ongoing negative impact of this legacy.

The Need for Structural Reform

To initiate meaningful change, the first step must be abolishing existing police colleges. These institutions are not only relics of the past but are also severely underfunded, under-managed, and incapable of providing cadets with the training needed for modern policing. The residential nature of these colleges adds a burden, with the government needing help to provide adequate living conditions for cadets. Proper housing, food, or even basic sanitation can foster an environment conducive to learning and leadership development.

Abolishing these police colleges, however, does not mean abolishing police training altogether. Instead, it presents an opportunity to design a new system that aligns with the needs of a 21st-century society. One such proposal is to replace these outdated institutions with training academies modeled after programs like the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) in the United States. These academies would be established within existing federal polytechnics, using their infrastructure and educational resources to provide a comprehensive, modern training program. This change promises a brighter future for policing, with more accessible and practical training for all cadets and a more accountable and transparent police force that is responsive to the needs of the people. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that implementing these reforms will not be without challenges, such as resistance from within the police force and the need for significant financial investment. Overcoming these challenges will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders. The need for a more comprehensive and modern training program is not just a suggestion but a crucial step towards equipping the Nigerian police force with the skills to handle the complexities of modern society.

A New Model: Federal Polytechnic Training Academies

By situating police training within federal polytechnics, we can achieve several key benefits. First, it decentralizes training, allowing more cadets from different regions to access high-quality education. Rather than concentrating training in a few residential colleges, these academies would be spread across the country, reducing the strain on government resources and making training more accessible to diverse recruits. This approach promises a brighter future for policing, with more accessible and practical training for all cadets and a more accountable and transparent police force that is responsive to the needs of the people.

Second, placing police academies in polytechnics allows for integrating academic disciplines into police training, fostering a more well-rounded education. Cadets could study criminology, public administration, and intelligence studies—crucial for effective police leadership in a modern, democratic society. An essential part of this proposal is offering Higher National Diploma (HND) programs in intelligence studies, enabling cadets to develop data analysis, criminal investigation, and strategic thinking skills. This education would empower police officers to be not just enforcers of the law but also problem-solvers who understand the root causes of crime and social unrest and work towards preventing these issues from occurring in the first place.

Additionally, these academies would focus on leadership development, community policing, and human rights, ensuring that future police leaders are trained to serve rather than control the public. By emphasizing these values, we can break free from the colonial mindset and create a police force that is not just accountable but transparent and responsive to the needs of the people. This approach benefits the public and ensures that the community is actively involved in shaping the future of policing, empowering them to contribute to a more just and equitable society. The transparency in policing this approach fosters will reassure the public and build confidence in law enforcement.

Integrating Technology: Tracking Criminals Through Digital Networks

A modern police force must also be equipped to address the evolving landscape of crime, which increasingly involves digital platforms and communication networks. Today’s criminals o en exploit social media to flaunt their activities, rely on GSM networks for covert communication, and even use the banking system for illegal financial transfers, including ransom payments. Yet, traditional police training does not adequately prepare officers to monitor and intercept these digital traces.

To address this gap, police training academies should include specialized programs in digital forensics, cyber intelligence, and GSM tracking technologies. These courses would train officers to monitor social media for potential criminal activity and identify suspects based on their online behavior. Furthermore, cadets would learn to operate cell-site simulators and other GSM-tracking technologies, which allow officers to locate suspects based on mobile network signals. This capability is critical for investigating organized crime networks that rely on encrypted communication within GSM channels.

Partnerships with financial institutions could further strengthen law enforcement’s capabilities. Officers could quickly trace ransom payments or other illegal financial transfers to specific accounts or regions by establishing protocols to monitor suspicious banking transactions. With access to real-time financial data, police could identify locations or criminal networks linked to these transactions, thereby enhancing the speed and precision of investigations.

The Role of Drones and Real-Time Surveillance

Embracing digital solutions, drones emerge as a beacon of hope in modern policing. Unlike their expensive combat counterparts, these cost-effective aerial surveillance tools empower police to monitor large areas, coordinate with ground officers, and swiftly respond to emergencies. In dense urban settings or challenging rural terrains, drones provide a comprehensive view of active situations and assess potential risks from a safe distance, instilling a sense of optimism for the future of policing.

By coordinating drone surveillance with ground operations, police can make informed, measured decisions, reducing the likelihood of excessive force or reactive violence. This approach, combined with training in intelligence and surveillance, prepares a new genera on of officers who are proactive, responsive, and equipped to handle complex security challenges such as hostage situations, large-scale protests, or terrorist threats.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for Change

The colonial legacy in police leadership has hindered the development of effective, community-centered policing for far too long. Reforming the police system requires more than surface-level changes; it demands a complete overhaul of how officers are trained, think, and interact with the public.

This overhaul includes revamping the curriculum to focus on community engagement, de-escalation techniques, modern technology and redefining the role of police in society.

Empowerment lies in transforming police colleges into modern training academies in federal polytechnics. By offering HND programs in intelligence studies, integrating GSM and social media tracking capabilities, and incorporating drone technology into everyday police work, these academies equip officers with the skills they need to be proactive, responsive, and accountable. Though not immediate, these changes are essential to building a police force that serves the people, not the remnants of a colonial past.

Only through decisive, comprehensive reform can we hope to create a police force that truly reflects the values and needs of a modern, democratic society. The urgency of this reform cannot be overstated, as it is the key to a more just and equitable future.

•Emmanuel Obi is a cyber-security professor and public affairs analyst who writes from North Carolina.