KIGALI - The title held by a person heading the Rwanda National Police (RNP) will no longer be referred as Commissioner General of Police (CGP) as the new title has been changed to Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Musa Fazil Harelimana, the Minister of Internal Security, announced the changes yesterday while officially opening this year’s Police Council meeting at the force’s headquarters in Kacyiru.

The council is the supreme organ of the national police which brings together heads of units, directors of various departments, district and regional heads and other senior officers in the force.

The new title for the police chief is part of the new police law No.46/2010 of December 14, 2010 which determines the powers, responsibilities, organisation and functioning of RNP.

The new legislation is in line with the East African Community (EAC) norms.

According to the new law, the Commissioner in charge of property management in the force will also be the Chief Budget Manager of the force.

Previously, this responsibility was held by the Ministry of Internal Security which is in charge of RNP.

Harelimana told the officers to embrace new media by opening Twitter and Facebook pages to ease communication with the public.

"This should be done as soon as possible. This way, police transparency will be enhanced,” Harelimana said.

The minister noted that measures to have a ratio of one police officer per 650 are underway. The current ratio stands at 1,000 civilians per police officer.

"There are many programmes that are underway to continue professionalizing the force,” said Harelimana, urging discipline, teamwork and patriotism in the force. 

Emmanuel Gasana, the IGP, outlined having a Police Reserve Force, Force Discipline Unit, Ethics centre and establishing a Police University and library as some of the projects in the pipeline.

He reminded the officers to "enhance the police’s responsibilities in protecting people and their property and the rule of law.”

The police chief explained that establishing and equipping a forensic laboratory and reinforcing the capacity of CID, traffic police and Intervention Force are some of the priority areas.

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