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Kinyarwanda
Residents in Rwamagana District queued in numbers in Karenge Cell of Nzige Sector to report cases at the Mobile Police Station vehicle services, which had made its maiden trip at the Eastern Province on January 22.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice and local leaders attended the exercise as hundreds of area residents lined up to lodge their complaints while many others came to see and get more information on the Mobile Police Station services.
The service is particularly extended to citizens residing or working in places located far away from Police stations, whereby, a mobile vehicle treks through the terrain searching for those wishing to make complaints or to report injustices committed against them.
The services first reached out to residents in Bugesera and Kamonyi districts respectively and since then, the vehicles have served hundreds of residents.
“I had a land problem with my neighbor for a very long time; I found it hard to report to Police because the station is too far. However, I had an announcement that Police would come all the way to our area to listen to us,” Berina Nyirandinabo, a 54 year old widow residing in Nzige Sector, Murenge Cell in Rwamagana, said.
Alongside Nyirandinabo, other residents lined up at the packed vehicle, as officers listened to their cases one by one.
After presenting her case to the officer, Nyirandinabo told the press that: “The Police officer listed to me carefully and gave me good advice on what I should do next. I am very satisfied and happy that Police goes as far as this to serve all Rwandans.”
According to the Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police, Celestin Twahirwa, most cases presented at the Mobile Station include land disputes, domestic wrangles and gender based violence.
“The Police Mobile Station Vehicle is a force multiplier; it enables police services to reach the furthest residents who are not close to our or other national services. We have so far reached out in four destinations and the attendance has been overwhelming,” CSP Twahirwa said.
“Police takes into consideration ever complaint presented and sorts them out according to the relevant institutions. We are partnering with the ministries of Justice and Local Government so that all the complaints can receive ample attention.”
Hundreds of area residents who attended were also sensitised on how to work with Community Policing Committees , desists from selling, abusing or transporting drugs
In a bid to increase their efficiency, officials from the Ministry of Justice travel alongside Police officers whenever the vehicles head out for outreach operations, and provide advice and assistance to those in need.
Police currently has three mobile station vehicles that cover areas assessed to be in need of the services, but there are plans to have enough vehicles that can traverse the whole country in the near future.
In previous cases, police statistics indicate that 41 cases remained with Police, while the rest were sent to answerable public institutions.
The cases that Police remained with are those within its mandate to investigate, while the rest were channeled to relevant institutions such as the judiciary and local leaders, where residents can get further assistance.
Another notable service that these vehicles are providing is education and sensitization to residents on matters pertaining their rights and freedoms and where to report particular complaints they may have.
