Police Develop Policies To Improve Efficiency and Welfare Of Officers

NAIROBI, Kenya April 25 -The National Police Service has developed 24 policies that seek to make the service more effective, foster relationship with broader society and also improve the welfare of the officers.
Some of the policies include the NPS Exit Management Policy that seeks to cater for the welfare of retired officers and families of officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and utilization of skilled police officers who have exited honorably.
To streamline investigations on serious crimes committed by police officers, the service has developed the NPS Policy on Procedures on investigation of serious human rights violations.
On the other hand, the NPS Policy on protection from personal liability on matters done in good faith has also been developed to provide a framework for the protection from personal liability for actions done in good faith in the performance of duties.
To provide a framework for classification of infrastructure and the level of security required, the service has developed the NPS Policy on Critical Infrastructure Protection.
Considering the role the media plays in policing, the NPS has also developed a Policy on the use of media by police officers, to guide on the use of Media in the interest of the Service.
Other policies are NPS Medical Scheme Policy, the NPS Policy on life Assurance Cover, Policy on NPS Hospitals, NPS Human Resource Policy, NPS Policy on engagement with Private Security Operators, and the National Policing Policy.
According to the police headquarters, the NPS Uniform Policy will also provide for the description, procurement, design, shades, texture, stitching, and gazettement of police uniforms.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary under Section 126(1) and (2) of the National Police Service Act is mandated to provide policy guidelines to the service and also monitor and evaluate the performance of the functions of the NPS.
The Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo had directed the service to nominate three technical officers to participate in the planning and preparations.
“Pursuant to Section 126(1) and (2) the Cabinet Secretary is planning a technical consultative meeting for the institutions addressed herein, and other stakeholders to identify and discuss current and emerging issues that require policy guidance to the security institutions including the national Police Service,” Dr Omollo wrote in a letter dated April 6.
“In this regard, you are requested to prepare and submit a comprehensive proposal on the issues that concern your institution to be submitted to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration not later than April 20, 2023,” he added.
Other policies developed are the Policy on Conflict of Interest in the NPS, the Policy on NPS Forensic Laboratory, Policy on Police documents, NPS Monitoring and Evaluation Policy, and the NPS Policy on protection and Access of information, among others.
The technical committee has also recommended that some of the existing policies require review.
They include the Housing policy to ensure decent and affordable houses and integration with communities and neighbourhoods; Training policy to include the current emerging issues on training; Career progression guidelines for Uniformed officers 2016; the NPS policy on VIP protection; and the Chaplaincy and Counselling policies to include emerging issues.
Others are the Bail and Bond policy and the National security policy, both to include emerging issues.
There are also seven draft policies pending finalization.