The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, has lauded the role of its partners in policing, saying it has strengthened its crime prevention strategy and further improved safety and security in communities.

The Police chief made the remarks on Sunday during a session that brought together over 100 members of varied categories of policing partners in the country.

They include representatives of anti-crime clubs in schools, youth volunteers in crime prevention, artistes, poets, crime preventers and police ambassadors.

Crime preventers advise and inform police of unlawful and criminal or suspicious cases for quick intervention while police ambassadors include officials from government and private institutions, faith-based organisations, NGOs, among others, who support community policing initiatives.

The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha, the Director General of Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM), Wellars Gasamagera and Fred Mufulukye, Director General of Terrestrial Administration and Governance in the Ministry of Local Government.

"This session is very important and we want to appreciate your role. In modern policing, crime prevention, detection and reduction strategies can be implemented through different ways such as music, poetry, dance and drama, social media, community-focused discussions, sports and culture and media,” IGP Gasana said.

"Through these initiatives, there have been significant results which have improved the safety and security of Rwandans, and this is the only way to go.”

He said that RNP has so far recovered stolen electronics of 16 families out of 18 theft cases registered in the last two weeks.

A total of 72 people involved in this theft especially targeting electronics, in the City of Kigali, were also arrested due to this partnership, he added.

He outlined several issues that should be given emphasis in daily community policing duties.

These include preventing and fighting crimes, corruption, drug abuse, sexual and gender-related crimes, and human trafficking among others.

"You have contributed greatly in changing the face of our country. When you change and change others, the impact is immense. Change, be exemplary and have self confidence," IGP Gasana said. 

Ambassador Munyabagisha, commended the existing partnership between police and policing partners.

"The government has a role to play but the public too has a duty to play. This right path should be reinforced."

Gasamagera, who is also the head of Police ambassadors, commended RNP for putting the ideal of community partnership towards sustainable security.

Mufulukye, who represented the minister, noted that partnership and confidence leads to sustainable security and development.

Participants also included leaders of associations of former commercial sex workers, drug traffickers and addicts. 

One of the crime preventers, Odille Mugabekazi, a reformed former sex worker stressed the need for all Rwandans to be actively involved in safety and security initiatives, adding that "it is in everyone’s interest.”

Currently, there are 810 anti-crime clubs in schools, over 1,000 members of youth volunteers in crime prevention, and about 150,000 members of CPCs.

Community policing is among the Rwanda National Police priorities.

It is aligned with its vision of "people in Rwanda are safe, involved and reassured.”