Police Council calls for vigilance in festive period

The Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana has commended Rwanda National Police (RNP) for its role in maintaining law and order, as well as lending its peace support missions to other nations. The minister was speaking on Tuesday while presiding over the ‘Police Council’ meeting alongside Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana, which attracted hundreds of officers. Police Council is the supreme organ of Rwanda National Police which brings together commanders of units, commissioners of various departments, regional and district commanders, seniors and junior officers as well as representatives of Non-commissioned officers from all territorial and specialised police units. The Council sits four times every year to evaluate the implementation of resolutions taken in previous meetings, identify success and challenges and devise new strategies aimed at excelling in law enforcement duties. “Police has done a lot to curb corruption, road accidents, human trafficking, gender-based-violence, drug abuse and many other vices. However, we must note that efforts have to be augmented, well knowing that criminals are always seeking for ways to avoid the law,” he said. The Council also noted that whereas security and rule of law have been commendable all year round, there is need to tighten public safety measures especially as we approach the festive period. “Now that we are approaching the festive season, we must be more vigilant – there is nothing more important than the security and safety of Rwandans. Officers must be professional and ensure that they do their work in a manner befitting of the uniform,” added the minister. Harerimana also assured the meeting that government is in the process of further improving their welfare. “As government plans to further improve the welfare, I ask officers to know that this comes with much more responsibility. You must carry out your work without fear or favor and you should desist from taking bribes or being corrupt,” he said. He appealed to them to open links with the public and involve people in discussing various issues that face them. IGP Gasana, said more actions are needed to prevent crimes despite previous successful interventions, such as the recent arrest of cocaine traffickers from Brazil, an operation he attributed to good cooperation between RNP and police forces from other countries. “The cocaine traffickers were successfully tracked because we shared information with the countries they were transiting from. This cooperation with police from other countries will ensure that we share best practices in preventing crimes,” Gasana said. With Rwanda hosting the Interpol Annual General Meeting in November 2015, IGP Gasana reminded officers that sensitising the public about police’s role in fighting crimes has made Rwanda one of the safest countries in the world – and urged them to keep doing the good work. The 2015 assembly for the international Police body in Kigali will be attended by more 1,500 officials from 190 member countries. The 2014-2015 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), ranked Rwanda the most secure country in Africa and tenth on the global. editorial@newtimes

News

Police Council calls for vigilance in festive period