Community policing delivering its best during current Presidential Campaigns:

The Director of Community Policing has affirmed. Community policing is a philosophy that promotes and supports organisational strategies to address the causes and fear of crime and social disorder through problem solving tactics and police community partnerships. Modern policing calls for a transformation from the traditional reactive type of policing to a more pro-active system of policing with an aim of providing better services. Community policing is founded on the principle that in a democratic society, the Police are entrusted by their fellow citizens to protect and serve the public’s fundamental rights to liberty, equality and justice under the law. To fulfil that privileged role the Police must work hand in hand with the community they serve. In fact, local models of community policing will vary and evolve according to current needs of differing communities, will share and retain the same set of key principles and core values of the cultural trends in national spirit. This policing concept conforms to the ideal of a “multi agency approach” whereby the police, the public, elected officials at all levels; government and other agencies work in partnership to address crime and community safety. Law enforcement, especially Rwanda National Police, must , in conformity with the National Constitution and more so the Police Act, perform their duties based on ‘Community Policing’ ethos which are in line with the ‘7Cs’ principles of: a. ‘Communicating with the b. Community to c. Create d. Cooperation, e. Collaboration, f. Coordination and g. Change’ in order for sustainable peace, democracy and development to take root. Security, stability, peace and reconciliation are nurtured and sustained at the grassroots levels and are a pre- requisite for development. The need for the Community Policing Committees (CPCs):In an attempt to democratically and efficiently police the Rwandan society, the RNP chose community policing approach (Community Based Policing) whereby local communities are involved in identifying security issues and consequently finding solutions for such issues. In a bid to operationalize the concept of community policing and yield more tangible results, the Cabinet approved the formation of Community Policing Committees (CPCs) throughout the country on 10th October, 2007 and consequently a Ministerial Decree No. 02/10/2007 that gives guidelines to CPCs was published. During the 2010 elections campaign, CPC’s are working hand in hand with RNP in ensuring sustainable security by giving quick and factual information to Police on the running of Presidential electoral campaign. CPC’s at village level have set up neighborhood watch program and night patrols with the aim of watching out for any security threat or disturbance to public order and rallies. This has boosted the tightening of security control in all corners of the national territory and all the fields of activity for the hot period the country is going through. In collaboration with CPC’s, RNP has got representatives of CPC’s at cell level who will help security operatives monitoring the situation at electoral sites. Through Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) who serve as a link in all sectors in the country, Police trained and prepared CPC’s for a quick transmission of information on any unusual situation in their area of residence. This move will boost pro-active action on potential threat to the smooth running of the electoral campaign.Police is as well maintaining security before and during rallies of the four presidential contenders in all the parts of the nation. As a matter of fact, no major incident has up to now occurred during rallies and electoral campaign. At the grassroots, local and opinion leaders underwent training in community policing and are collaborating with local defense agents, first to get effective, accurate and up-to- date information on security in their area of operation and second, to convey information to Police quickly for a swift action. Owners of hotels and lodges and Civil Society including Church Leaders are also collaborating with Police in preventing crime by giving out information on any action which is likely to disturb smooth running of the electoral campaign. In the community policing framework, commanders in RNP communicate to the public regularly on the overall situation of security through the media to keep community members informed on their safety. Police re-assures Rwanda citizens, foreigners and visitors that their security is its main concern and everything is done to ensure that the 2010 Presidential Elections take place in a peaceful environment. Besides, Police alone cannot ensure the security of the entire society. Police needs a full cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders to achieve our common vision which is to make Rwanda a crime free haven for all. Community policing is aimed at improving the quality of this service through Police-community involvement while each party understands the other’s role to reach agreeable solutions to arising social problems. Collaboration and coordination between Police and the community will help all of us attain the noble legacy from our ancestors of one people; one language, one culture that Rwanda as a nation is so proud of and so many countries are aspiring to reach today. Ends