Directorate of Community Policing

COMMUNITY POLICING AND COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITEES IN RWANDA

 Introduction:

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes and supports organisational strategies to address the causes and fear of crime and social disorder through problem solving tactics and police community partnerships.

The need for Community Policing:

Traditionally, the police had to wait around passively for crimes to occur and only react to urgent calls for services. The symptoms, instead of the causes of crime were addressed and social problems as well as non-crime issues received less attention. As a result of limited communication with the community as well as viewing of the community as merely the source of information, the police and the community were alienated from each other.

This state of affairs contributed to the widening of the gap between the police and the community they were meant to serve.

Today, there is growing expectation that the police must fulfil a broader police role than was traditionally the norm (e.g. reactive behaviour). The idea of a more flexible policing style with the emphasis on unique community expectation is receiving growing support.

Modern policing calls for a transformation from the traditional reactive type of policing to a more pro-active system of policing with an aim of providing better services.
 
While the need for consultation or communication with the community has been expressed on a daily basis, consequently, traditional policing is losing momentum in this new era, and a new style of policing which is community policing had to be officially adapted and implemented in Rwanda.

Community policing is a worldwide concept; developed during the 1980s as the model police, when the dominant party in the many community-policing programs evolved into a new concept of independent agents working together in partnership with formal structures.
 
This policing concept conforms to the ideal of a “multi agency approach” whereby the police, the public, elected officials at all levels; government and other agencies work in partnership to address crime and community safety.

Law enforcement, especially Rwanda National Police, must , in conformity with the National Constitution and more so the Police Act, perform their duties based on ‘Community Policing’ ethos which are in line with the ‘7Cs’ principles of:

1. ‘Communicating with the
2. Community to
3. Create
4. Cooperation,
5. Collaboration,
6. Coordination and
7. Change’ in order for sustainable peace, democracy and development to take root.

The need for the Community Policing Committees (CPCs):

In an attempt to democratically and efficiently police the Rwandan society, the RNP chose community policing approach (Community Based Policing) whereby local communities are involved in identifying security issues and consequently finding solutions for such issues.

In a bid to operationalize the concept of community policing and yield more tangible results, the Cabinet approved the formation of community policing committees throughout the country on 10th October, 2007 and consequently published the ministerial decree No. 02/10/2007 that gives guidelines for CPCs.

Rwanda National Police is henceforth committed to closely work with the community; this will improve Police performance but also involve people who will then live more happily without anxiety as they will be in the control of the situation. The Police will work closely with the local community as the latter is the fundamental constitutional unit of the society next to the family. Rwanda National Police is therefore forming the community policing committees with basic aim of getting community participation in problem solving. “The Safety of a society can not be protected by Police alone”

Effective Community Policing has a positive impact in reducing neighbourhood crime, helping to reduce the fear of crime and enhancing the quality of life in the community. It accomplishes these things by combining the ideas, efforts and resources of the police, local government and community members. Community Policing has a key strategic role to play in this process hence the establishment of Community Policing Committees (CPCs).

Designing and implementing community policing programs and initiatives is a pre-requisite for the achievement of our vision, mission and goals.

It is important that we create and support community partnerships to ensure that all patrol personnel appreciate that community policing is their primary responsibility, and that all other police personnel should always support the process.

It has been stressed that it is desirable for police officials to acquire a general consciousness of concepts of democracy, justice, fundamental freedoms and human rights. But this in itself would be insufficient if police practice were not pervaded and directed in accordance with this consciousness and knowledge. That’s why the Government of Rwanda opted for the Community Policing Strategy and the establishment of Community Policing Committees.

The war on crime will be easier if a mutually beneficial partnership is forged between communities and the police. Under the envisioned project, the community will be responsible for mobilization and organization of community committees to engage local police at various defined levels on crime prevention.

The police in turn will be expected to offer swift response to the concerns of the community whenever approached.

It is expected the community will reciprocally offer information on criminality to the police to help them deal with safety and security challenges.

To achieve the above, we need to strengthen the existing cooperation with the stakeholders and partners, both national and international.
 
Experience has shown that, no law enforcement organ can work in isolation of development partners; indeed support will be required for the successful implementation of CPCs.

How Community Policing Committees (CPCs) will operate

Community Policing Committees are relevant at the lowest level because this is where the dynamics of society are cantered. The Ministerial Instructions No 02/07 of 18/10/2007 establishing Community Policing Committees in its Article 1, puts in place CPCs at the levels of Villages (Imidugudu) and Cells (Utugari).

CPCs will be managed by community representatives and priorities will be set after consultations with the community and a designated Police Officer/Community Liaison officer will be in charge of those committees at the Sector level as a facilitator.

The establishment of CPCs will be easy because of the existing administrative structures that reach the lowest grass root level.

The Village Community Policing Committee convenes once in two weeks whereas the Cell committee convenes monthly. The two committees can however convene whenever necessary.

Each committee submits a report to its immediate higher level on the problems identified and the possible measures taken. The report must be submitted not later than 24 hours after each session.

Each committee submits a monthly, quarterly and annual report to the immediate higher level in hierarchy; each report is submitted within a period not exceeding 15 days after the end of the very given period.

The Chairman of the committee shall always provide information to the nearest Police Unit, and is obliged to urge the people in his locality to provide him/her or to any other security organ with first hand information. 

At the District level, the District Police Commander (DPC) Coordinates the Sector Community Policing Committees in the District. At the Provincial and Kigali City level, the Regional Police Commander (RPC) represents all committees in the Province or Kigali City.

Every Regional Police Commander (RPC) collects information from all committees under his/her area of responsibility and submits them to the Commissioner General of Police.

Reports of Community Policing Committees are analyzed at the different set of administrative levels.

Structure, Election and Composition of CPCs:

Members of the Community Policing Committees will be at the village (Umudugudu) and Cell (Akagali) levels. At the Sector (Umurenge) level there will be a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) as a coordinator 

At the Village level, the committee is composed of:

1. The Village leader (Chairman)
2. The in charge security (secretary) and three (03) other individuals elected by the Village Advisory Committee. The committee can replace them whenever necessary.
3. The committee can refer to any other person depending on the issues to be discussed.

The CPCs will suggest to the Village Advisory Council, to put on the agenda, any issue that is likely to cause or causes insecurity to be discussed at the Council level.

Members of the Community Policing Committee at the Cell level.
The members of the committee at Cell level are:

1. The Cell Executive Secretary (Chairman);
2. Heads of CPCs of  all Villages that constitute the Cell;
3. The person responsible for youth in the Cell;
4. The person responsible for gender issues in the Cell;
5. The people responsible for security in all Villages that constitute the Cell;
6. The leader of Local Defence Unit (LDU) in the Cell;
7. The committee shall refer to any other person when deemed necessary depending on the problem at hand 
8. The committee members shall elect a secretary among themselves.

Collaboration and co-ordination between the Sector Security Committee and Community Policing Committees.

The CLO shall always present reports to the Sector Security Council on the functioning of CPCs, for appropriate action.

The Role of Rwanda National Police

There will be a Police officer who will serve as a Community Liaison Officers (CLO), at every Sector to coordinate activities of the CPCs. Rwanda National Police shall as well:

1. Advise the committees.
2. Train members of the CPCs.
3. Find a rapid solution to problems raised by the committees.

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has set internal benchmarks and indicators to monitor the implementation and functioning of CPCs. These are simple, realistic and inexpensive measures. The indicators should comprise:

1. A balance checklist of activities.
2. Responsiveness or resistance by the Police or community.
3. Statistics of implementation in terms of crime reduction.

CONCLUSION

Preventing, detecting and reducing fear of crime is the cornerstone of the establishment of the CPCs.

The Community and Rwanda National Police recognize the importance of strengthening partnerships in securing our environment. 

CPCs will therefore strengthen and enhance the means of securing the safety and peace of the community life.

Resolving conflicts among the population through participation of the citizens themselves is the highest anticipated norm.

We are confident that this well thought program will assist in crime prevention and the attainment of security which is a fundamental basis for development and our vision 2020.

 “Rwanda – One people, one language one culture is an added advantage for the successful implementation of Community Policing Committees”