Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) week-long campaign to strengthen the ideology of community policing concluded on Thursday with the call to reinforce community initiatives against lawlessness.

Although the security situation in the country is generally calm and reassured, Police said that narcotic drugs, domestic and gender based violence, child abuse especially teenage pregnancies, corruption, and theft, continue to be of high impact to the well-being of the people and to development.

While addressing hundreds of Kigali dwellers and other community policing groups at Nyamirambo stadium, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Barthelemy Rugwizangoga observed that community policing is the backbone of the current security situation in the country and broke the past phobia that made the citizenry fear their security organs and denied them their right to ensure own security.

Community policing was adapted in the year 2000, when the force was created, to encourage citizens to participate in crime-solving. It comes as a strategic and thoughtful plan focused on the proactive prevention of crime and disorder, by partnering with the public to increase police visibility in all communities to solve, prevent and reduce crime through information sharing.

As a result, various community policing groups have been established including over 140000 members of community policing committees, 260000 Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing, about 3000 anti-crime clubs, anti-crime ambassadors as well as Irondo –community night patrols—in all the 14 837 Villages across the country.

The 2017/2018 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) ranked Rwanda the first country in Africa and 13th globally where citizens trust and rely on Police services to enforce law and order.

“Community policing feats should be sustained and strengthened to give no room for drug dealers, ensure those who abuse the rights of women and children, and denying the young people a better future are brought to justice. All this largely depend on information sharing,” ACP Rugwizangoga said.

On the particular issue of narcotics, ACP Rugwizangoga observed it remains one of the major obstacles to youth development both in aspects of education and health.

More than 4000 drug dealers were arrested last year. The young people aged between 18 and 35 years account for at least 70 percent of people involved in drug related crimes including trafficking, abuse and addicts.

Between 2010 and 2015, the Neuro-psychiatric Hospital of Ndera received 1,432 patients with mental illness caused by use of drugs, according to statistics from Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC).

The number increased to 2804 in 2016 but recorded a slight decrease to 1960 last year. Huye Isange Rehabilitation Centre received 209 cases, last year.

Kirehe, Nyagatare, Rubavu, Burera and Gicumbi, where this campaign was also held, are considered as main transit routes for drug traffickers. As a result, communities especially on borderlines have formed anti-drugs groups aimed at reinforcing Police efforts to break chains of supply.

On the issue of teenage pregnancies, reports indicate that the number of teen mothers is high in the districts of Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Kirehe, Bugesera, Gasabo, Rubavu, Kayonza, Musanze, Ngoma and Rwamagana.

“Where you live and pass, be an eye to other people; don’t witness or suspect a crime and keep quiet because that would be no less than being an accomplice,” ACP Rugwizangoga said.

He also hinted on the issue of road traffic safety urging them to report drivers and motorcyclists whose behaviours on road put lives of people at risk.

Despite the 20 percent reduction in road accidents in this year’s first nine months, overtaking and dangerous spots, speeding, drunk-driving and driving while using the phone remain one of the major cause of fatalities.

Motorcyclists account for majority (30 percent) of road injuries and deaths registered, followed by cyclists and pedestrians.