English
Kinyarwanda
For the last 15 years of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) existence since its creation in 2000, the force has been bold on corruption, emphasizing the ideal of 'zero stance.'
To effectively spur this goal, RNP went an extra mile to establish an anti-corruption unit that was later face-lifted to a fully-fledged department of Inspectorate of Police Services and Ethics.
Among its responsibilities is to fight corruption in and outside the force, conduct internal audits and ethics of officers.
According to Chief Supt. Murenzi Sebakondo, the Commissioner for the department, a lot has been achieved to rid the force and the country in general of tendencies of bribery and illegal acquisition of services.
"The force has fronted this ideal and has laid stringent measures through community policing, to fight corruption within and outside the institution," said CSP Sebakondo.
He disclosed that between July 2013 and May 2015, a total of 413 people, both civilians and Police officers have been arrested either giving or getting bribes.
"Between July 2013 and December 2014, we arrested 117 civilians. A total of 138 other civilians were arrested between January and May this year," he added.
"In the same period, we arrested 80 police officers. All those arrested (civilians and Police officers), were found either giving, trying to offer or taking a bribe to acquire, give an illegal service or to force their way out of a committed crime," he explained.
"There are also two prosecutors who were arrested in the same period."
Most of those arrested have either been prosecuted or pending legal action.
"As you know, corruption has no place in Rwanda National Police, every officer caught in these tendencies is handled accordingly in respect of the code of conduct and other laws including likely dismissal from the force."
"Rwandans should be trustworthy and exemplary, and uphold Rwandan values of integrity while fighting such vices which are both illegal and have impact on the national economy."
"RNP has adopted the modern way of policing - E-policing - as one way of fighting crimes and corruption in particular. This is why registration to seat for a driver's licence have been put online, including checking if a candidate passed or failed."
The force also established the Ethics centre, to impart values, norms and ethics not only to Police officers but also those from other institutions.
The motor-vehicle mechanical inspection centre services have been decentralized to other regions and the mobile test lane makes trips to different parts of the country to serve car owners operating in the country side.
"We also conduct country wide awareness activities to sensitize the general population about the the law against corruption and consequences involved and we do it in partnership with other charged institutions like the office of Ombudsman, Transparency International Rwanda and Rwanda Governance Board (RGB)."
RNP also established a toll-free line - 997 - and other lines like 0788311400, 0788311320 and 0788311820 for the general public to report any form of corruption in their work places and communities to the mentioned department.
He called upon the general public to shun such criminal minds and report those that try to bribe or solicit bribes in order to give or receives illegal services.
