To enable it respond promptly to cases of sexual and domestic violence in Lagos, the state police command has said that it is planning to create Family Support Unit across all its divisions and outposts in the state.
The state commissioner of police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa said this during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
He said that Lagos Police Command is planning to ensure that its 110 Police Divisions and 70 Outpost across the State have Family Support Units (FSU and promised to also put up befitting structures expected of a standard FSU while providing adequate training for the staff of the units.
Owohunwa also revealed that his Office is upgrading its Gender Desk Department which would ensure improved investigation of cases as well as ascertain that survivors are able to have prompt access to medical, legal and other support, all under one roof.
Emphasising that this is critical in ensuring diligent investigation and prosecution of cases, the State Commissioner of Police called for more awareness campaigns by the Agency in order to break the culture of silence among residents while ultimately encouraging survivors to speak up and get the much-needed help.
Meanwhile the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaborative efforts with the State Police Command towards curbing the menace of domestic and sexual violence as well as providing necessary support to victims of abuse.
Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi stated this, adding that the visit of Mr. Owohunwa was a welcome development towards strengthening the DSVA-Police collaborative efforts in the fight against Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and all other forms of abuses against the most vulnerable in the State.
Vivour-Adeniyi revealed that the State Government has been able to accomplish great success in its fight against SGBV through its various programmes, policies and interventions championed by the Agency which has also helped in getting justice for survivors of domestic violence across the State.
The Commissioner of Police lauded the Lagos DSVA for being an exceptional Agency in the fight against SGBV and domestic violence to ensure the rights of victims and survivors are adequately protected.
Owohunwa reaffirmed commitment of the Police to working with the government and assured that the Police, under his watch, would complement the efforts of the Agency to attain its statutory mandate.
Furthermore, he noted that his Office is working on strengthening intra-Police coordination by evolving a structure that would effectively coordinate prompt response within the Police.
