Rwanda National Police

The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana has lauded the role of its partners in policing saying it has strengthened its crime prevention strategy and further improved safety and security in communities.

The Police Chief made the remarks on September 13 during a session that brought together over one hundred members of varied categories of policing partners in the country.

They include representatives of Anti-Crime clubs in schools, Youth Volunteers in Crime Prevention ,artists, poets, crime preventers and Police Ambassadors.

Crime preventers advise and inform  police on an unlawful and criminal or suspicious act for quick intervention while Police Ambassadors include officials from government and private institutions, faith-based organisations, NGOs, among other, who support community policing initiatives to prevent and suppress crime.

The event was also attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha, the Director General of Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM), and Fred Mufuruki, Director General of Terrestrial Administration and Governance in the Ministry of Local Goverment.

“This session is very important and we want to appreciate your role. In modern policing, crime prevention, detection and reduction strategies can be implemented through different ways such as music, poetry, dance and drama, social media, community focused discussions, sports and culture and media,” IGP Gasana said.

“Through these initiatives, there have been significant results which have improved the safety and security of Rwandans, and this is the only way to go.”

He quoted HE President Paul Kagame where he said that “Rwandans must be able to take their security and safety for granted. It’s a must and you the Police have been trained to ensure that that is the case,” adding that this “inevitable partnership” is in line with this visionary guidance by the Head of State.

He said that RNP has so far recovered stolen electronics of 16 families out of 18 theft cases registered in the last two weeks.

A total of 72 people involved in this theft especially targeting electronics, in the City of Kigali, were also arrested due to this partnership, he added.

He outlined preventing and fighting crimes, subversive activities, fighting negative ideologies, corruption, drug abuse, sexual and gender-related crimes, and human trafficking as some of the issues they should give emphasis in their daily community policing duties. "You have contributed greatly in changing the face of our country. When you change and change others, the impact is immense. Change, be exemplary and have self confidence" IGP Gasana said. 

Ambassador Munyabagisha, commended the existing partnership between police and policing partners.

"The government has a role to play but the public too have a duty to play. This right path should be reinforced."

Gasamagera, who is also the head of Police ambassadors, thanked RNP for putting the ideal of community partnership towards sustainable security.

"This partnership is built on law, policies and programmes laid by our leadership " Gasamagera said.

Mufuruki Fred  who represented the Minister, expressed gratitude for the existing partnership between the force and the local governance entities.

Mufuruki outlined partnership, proactive and problem-solving, and confidence leads to sustainable security, investment and subsequently to sustainable development.

Participants also included leaders of associations of former prostitutes,drug dealers and addicts. 

One of the crime preventers, Odilla Mugabekazi, a reformed former prostitute, reiterated the need for all Rwandans to be actively involved in safety and security initiatives adding that “it is in everyone’s interest.”

“This security can't only be delivered by Police and other security organs without the contribution of all Rwandans. We are glad to have a visionary leadership, committed and focused security organs, but our roles also counts much,” she added.

Currently, there are 810 anti-crime clubs in schools, over 1, 000 members of youth volunteers in crime prevention, and about 150, 000 members of CPCs.

Community policing is among the Rwanda National Police priorities. It is aligned with its vision of “people in Rwanda are safe, involved and reassured.”