The 6th edition of the Rwanda National Police (RNP) activities marking its 15th anniversary dubbed ‘Police Week 2015’ will be launched today in Musanze District as the Force continues to reinforce the concept of community policing in crime prevention.

Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Celestin Twahirwa said the week-long activities will be conducted across the country focusing on crime prevention awareness and outreach programmes, ahead of June 16, when RNP will officially celebrate its 15 years of existence.

"The ‘Police Week 2015’ is a moment to reignite crime prevention awareness campaign, appreciate the commitment and support from our partners in policing and celebrate achievements we have made in the last 15 years,” CSP Twahirwa said.

Formed in June 2000, RNP was the result of a merger of three institutions including; Gendarmerie Nationale, and Communal and Judicial Police, which had the policing mandate at the time.

They, however, lacked coordination, harmony and professionalism to march needs in law enforcement during a period when criminality was considerably high.

"Besides the country’s support and good leadership RNP has enjoyed, the success registered in the last 15 years was also due to strong partnership with other players in policing, especially the general public, who played an important role in creating safety and security that Rwanda is enjoying today,” Twahirwa added.

During the activities, Police will give out four houses it constructed for the disadvantaged in Busasamana Sector, Nyanza District, each valued at Rwf9 million, and 17 cows to vulnerable families in various parts of the country.

RNP has been supporting various human empowerment projects since its establishment, engineered towards reinforcing government socio-economic development agenda under the concept of community policing, officials say.

The Force also donated at least 20 motorcycles to taxi-moto cooperatives and 10 vehicles to districts in support of community policing initiatives, planted 400 hectares of trees in the last 15 years.

RNP has grown in personnel by over 200 per cent since 2000 and also bolstered its capacities and infrastructure that include three police schools, a hospital and 12 health centres.

Traffic and road safety was also boosted with the establishment of vehicle mechanical inspection centres.

Beyond borders, RNP is involved in peacekeeping operations since 2005, and it has headed various regional police groupings like the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO).

It has also held representation for Africa on Interpol committees while spearheading Police-to-Police cooperation across the continent, which has seen criminals apprehended, including Genocide fugitives.

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