Regional police chiefs meet in Kigali

Elements involved in transnational crimes can only be effectively combated through international police cooperation to deter, prevent and investigate and track down criminal networks.The Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Gasana, said this yesterday while officially opening the 23rd Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) Committee of Police Chiefs meeting, in Kigali.“Much as we are happy of what the organisation has achieved 13 years down the road, it is also important to note that over the years, transnational criminality has become sophisticated,” Gasana, who is also the current chairman of EAPCCO, observed.“The methods employed, the magnitude of criminal activities and the operation environment have changed”. He noted that cyber crime is becoming a global phenomenon and is the biggest menace to today’s society.Threat of transnational and organised crimes such as terrorism, counterfeit, human trafficking, piracy and drug trafficking, he added, are directly affecting the policing regime.“Keeping in view the gravity of these crimes, therefore, it is proposed that the Interpol project maybe initiated to lead all IT intermediaries for exchange of information, including telecom companies, email service providers and crowd computing service providers from we, member states,” Gasana stated.“This will ease the exchange of information at informal level as a first step to carry out multi-jurisdictional investigations”. During a similar meeting also held in Kigali last year, member countries agreed on joint training, which will be conducted in Rwanda this year.Francis Rwego, the Head of Interpol regional bureau, however, faulted the police chiefs for not fast-tracking the implementation of the resolutions adopted in the previous meetings.He, however, pledged Interpol’s support to establish peace and security in the region.EAPCCO brings together 12 countries that include Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.Its main objectives include combating cross border crime though cooperation and collaboration, adoption of joint strategies, monitoring, information exchange and training. It is also responsible for crime situation reviews and meetings, legal and mutual assistance and legal harmonisation and other activities that would enhance combating cross border crime.

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Regional police chiefs meet in Kigali