At least 2,150 people across the country, including cell executive secretaries, local leaders at the sector level and youth volunteers, were yesterday trained in community policing and crime prevention in particular.
At least 2,150 people across the country, including cell executive secretaries, local leaders at the sector level and youth volunteers, were yesterday trained in community policing and crime prevention in particular.
According to Celestin Twahirwa, commissioner for community policing in Rwanda National Police (RNP), the training is meant to raise the skills and knowledge of community policing committees (CPCs) and other players in crime detection, prevention and fighting.
The training covered the general concept of community policing, human rights, role of the public in crime prevention and the partnership between CPCs and other entities to ensure safety and security.
The exercise also tackled the Rwandan history and values, sanitation and hygiene, and environmental protection.
"This is a training of trainers (ToT) of all cell executive secretaries across the country, who are also the heads of CPCs; two members of youth volunteers in community policing and at least one local leader from each of the 416 sectors across the country,” Twahirwa said.
The training, held separately in each of the 30 districts, is facilitated by 120 people, including District Police Commanders, District Community Liaison Officers and members of the youth volunteer organisation, who attended the similar ToT last month.
"The new ToT members will in turn extend the knowledge and skills to all the 74,765 members of community policing committees countrywide, in the next phases.”
"The general idea is for all players in policing and CPCs in particular, to effectively have a collective understanding and approach against crime and deny criminals freedom of action in neighbourhoods,” Twahirwa said.
"They will be able to critically examine likely causes of crime and disorder to be averted by Police at their earliest possible rather than dealing with the consequences.”
The community policing strategy brings the general public together in solving local problems and to contribute to the enhancement of the overall quality of life in the communities.
Community policing increases a sense of responsibility, whereby citizens understand their role in partnering with Police in solving crimes and other challenges that affect communities.
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