The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana, has said that the proactive factor of partnership in policing is a guarantee to sustainable peace, safety and security.

The IGP made the remarks, yesterday, while officiating at the closure of a three-day district coordinators of the Rwanda Youth Volunteers in Community Policing (RYVCP) and District Community Liaison Officers (DCLOs), at the Rwanda National Police General Headquarters in Kacyiru.

The Police chief noted that the "country has come this far” from the ashes of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi due to divisive governance, and appealed to the youth to be defined by "self-determination” and "practical partnership” in the policing and development transformation.

The retreat focused on strengthening partnership between the youth volunteers and the Police in community policing, with major focus on cementing the ideal of good governance, customer care, environmental protection and crime prevention especially high impact crimes like corruption, gender violence, human trafficking and drug abuse, among others.

"You can make operational mistakes but can’t make ideological mistakes,” Gasana said, urging the volunteers to be the voice and strength of mindset change.

He urged them to be patriotic citizens, always be updated and ready to persevere when the situation calls.

"What you have done so far was not in vain, but you have to press on and be ready to face it upfront,” the IGP said.

The youth volunteer organisation was created in 2013 and has been credited for playing a significant role in community policing and anti-crime awareness and crime prevention in particular, in communities. The forum currently has 50, 000 members including students and graduates. 

The director of territorial administration and good governance at the Ministry of Local Government and Social Affairs, Fred Mufuruki, appealed to the youth to be the eye, ear and voice of good governance and effective implementation of government development programmes.

The youth volunteers, meanwhile, resolved to strengthen cooperation and collaboration against corruption, injustices, illicit drugs and GBV and raise awareness against radicalisation, among others.

They also recommitted to champion the security and hygiene campaign, support implementation of government development programmes and service delivery and create coordination structures down to the Village levels by the end of this year.

Currently, leadership structures stop at the sector level.

Meanwhile, the youth organisation, which is expected to hold its second congress by the end of this year, intends to increase its membership to one million by the end of next year.

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