Transparency International boss visits police HQs

The chairperson of Transparency International, Huguette Labelle, visited the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru, yesterday, and commended efforts to fight against graft within the Police Force. Huguette, who was accompanied by Marie Immaculée Ingabire, the chairperson of Transparency International-Rwanda, said the Force’s initiatives are a clear indication of its “zero tolerance stance against corruption.” The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Emmanuel K. Gasana, outlined the establishment of the Anti-corruption Unit, Ethics Centre, and internal audit as some of the measures that were put in place to keep the officers in check. The Ethics Centre, located at the Police headquarters, was established in 2012 to maintain professional standards, values and norms of officers and the employees of other public and private companies, among others. IGP Gasana also explained that the Force works closely with other institutions like Transparency International-Rwanda and the Ombudsman’s office to fight corruption in the country. He further explained that the Force has so far extended the Interpol system, I-24/7, to all outlets to aid in fighting cross-border crimes, including identifying and apprehending officials suspected of corruption. I-24/7 is a global police network that helps to share urgent police information between Interpol member countries to search for suspected criminals or wanted persons, stolen and lost documents, stolen vehicles, among others. Rwanda is the third country in Africa to have the Interpol system (I/247) operating at the border after Botswana and South Africa.