Police train in crowd control

EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA - Officers from Rwanda National Police on Saturday completed a two-month course in crowd management and control, a training that was held at Gishari Police Training Centre in the Eastern Province. At the pass-out, 135 anti-riot police officers demonstrated tactics used in stopping violent demonstrations. The high level skills were demonstrated in front of the Commissioner General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, and Tanzania’s First Secretary in Rwanda, Lawrence Metege. The police boss said the training was in line with the ongoing capacity building process in the institution. He added that despite the skills used to quell riots, the police should be ready to work with the community around them. “There is always need to train the police. Anti-riot unit is very important in diffusing riots of any kind. A good policeman is always courageous and works closely with the population,” he said. The police Chief thanked the Tanzanian instructors who were part of those who trained the anti-riot police officers. He said that the Rwanda Police had benefited from the great experience of the Tanzania Police. He also thanked the UNDP for the financial support in the exercise.Assistant Superintendent Paul Sanga, a Police instructor attached to Officers’ College in Morogoro, said that the Rwandan trainees showed maximum discipline and cooperation. He, however, said that Kiswahili language was a little bit problematic, and sometimes communication was difficult. “The Kiswahili we used was the only challenge, because the trainees were not well conversant with it,” he said. “But the discipline they have shown is enough to bring up a formidable anti-riot police unit. They only need to stay together and be given a special uniform”. According to the police spokesman Superintendent Erick Kayiranga out of 136 trainees, only one was not able to complete the course due to sickness. Ends