A total of 1148 Police officers were yesterday conferred upon the rank of Police Constable at Gishari Police Training School after completing a seven-month training.

The batch was one of the largest number of recruits into the Rwandan National Police force.

The new officers include 181 females.

The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harelimana, who presided over the function, said the mass pass out of the Police officers was meant to maximise law and order in the country.

Harelimana said Rwanda National Police was focusing on quality, noting that the changing nature of crimes require Police officers who are qualified in other disciplines as well.

He cautioned the new officers to uphold discipline and work hard, saying it was the only way to progress in their profession.

"You must uphold the law and work within the limits of the law…you cannot enforce the law when you violate it. Breaking the law in any way cannot be tolerated. This should be your guiding principle…we don’t expect you to engage in futile attempts to tarnish the good name of RNP,” he told the new constables.

The minister told them that they had joined a national institution that requires individual and collective discipline.

"You are taking charge of something very important– the law and order of society. It requires patriotism and high level of commitment…it is more than just a job, it is about  serving the nation selflessly. You must be ready for that.”

ACP Denis Basabose, the Commandant of the Gishari Police Training School, said some trainees that had enrolled failed to complete the training for various reasons.

According to the Police spokesman CSP Celestin Twahirwa, Rwanda aims to increase the ratio of police personnel to the population 1:500 from the current 1:900.