Police officials have met over 600 local leaders and community security personnel in Kicukiro District to promote community participation in crime prevention in the area.

Drug abuse, human trafficking and the ongoing police operation against noise pollution that has seen some entertainment places closed topped the agenda of the October 18 meeting.

The meeting sought to strengthen proactive community policing approach to crime prevention in the district.

The District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police Fred Ndoli, said there is still gap between Police, local leaders and the general public in dealing with criminal acts in the district.

"We need to narrow that gap to shift from fighting to preventing crimes; analysing anything that can cause insecurity and exchanging information in time is, therefore, crucial if we have to be on a preventive side,” Ndoli said.

He singled out drug abuse as a crime that requires immediate attention and challenged local leaders to carry out awareness campaigns against human trafficking and noise pollution.

"Noise pollution and night disturbance in Kigali is a major concern and people exercising their rights and beliefs should do so in a way that does not affect the rights of others,” he added.

The Rwanda National Police, in partnership with local authorities, is currently implementing the anti-noise pollution and night disturbance law as stipulated under article 600 of the penal code and articles 37 and 108 of the organic law determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda.

This operation follows the September 17 meeting with church owners and leaders chaired by the Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, where they were explained on the law and urged to lower the volume of their sound systems, operate in designated areas and install sound proofs in their facilities.

The issue of trafficking in persons has also been of great concern to the government, though Rwanda, in most cases, is used as a transit route.

Over 150 cases of human trafficking have been recorded in Rwanda since 2009, 90 per cent of them females and 82 per cent of them aged between 18 and 35.

The government recently held a high level dialogue on trafficking in human beings to collectively fight the exploitative business, which has become a global phenomenon.

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