Rwanda National Police

Members of Community Policing Committees (CPCs) in Musanze, Nyagatare and Muhanga districts were on February 21, enlightened on the concept of proactive policing in fighting and preventing crimes.

During the separate training exercises, participants were given more skills on how to fight and prevent crimes, manage and handle conflicts, fast-tracking government security and development programmes to ensure sustainability.

In Musanze, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Viateur Ntiyamira, the District  Community Liaisons Officer (DCLO) asked the over 100 CPCs, who attended, to lead by example and be closer to the people to create a bond of partnership in advancing the ideals of community policing to ensure the safety of people and their property.

“Community policing involves the police and the general population working together to resolve mutual issues, share information on security threats for timely response, which contribute to maintain social order,” CIP Ntiyamira told the CPC members.

“Community based Policing is a way of policing which involves citizen interaction and participation in solving problems,” he explained.

In Nyagatare   the DCLO Jean Claude Kaburabuza, while speaking to CPCs in Karama Sector called for enhancement of night patrols to curb crimes especially committed under the dark like trafficking and selling of contrabands.

He also urged them to endeavor to know families facing internal wrangles and either resolve them or be quick to share information so that some conflicts are resolved before they turn violent.

“The goal of the community policing committees is to work with the citizens, both public and private organizations to identify and resolve issues, which could affect the quality of life” said CIP Kaburabuza.

Inspector of Police (IP) Innocent Musabyimana shared with the CPCs in Muhanga how police has addressed community challenges through collaboration and proactive partnerships with residents.

"We must uphold patriotism and commitment in everything that we do, our priority must always be the safety and security of the people," he said.

CPCs work also with the police in providing public education and awareness programs, and promote public commitment through active involvement in the resolution of crime and social order programs.

CPCs were introduced in 2007 and they are made up of ordinary citizens chosen by fellow residents. They operate in villages and cells to collect information that helps in crime prevention, while they also reach out to residents and sensitize them about the need to collectively overcome crime, thus improving the quality of life.