In a bid to further raise awareness against crimes, Rwanda National Police (RNP) conducted a one-day community policing sensitization campaign in three refugee camps of Mahama, Mugombwa and Gihembe in Kirehe, Gisagara and Gicumbi districts respectively.
The campaign held on Monday aimed at equipping refugees with knowledge on crimes like Gender Based Violence (GBV), drug abuse, human trafficking and introduce them to preventive measures.
“We also equipped refugees with basic skills of sharing information and reporting crimes,” said Senior Superintendent, Teddy Ruyenzi, the Director of Civic Education, Community Policing Department.
During the sensitization campaign, RNP established two anti-crime clubs in Mugombwa and Mahama refugee camps and also shared the community policing concept.
To ensure their security, Police also warned youth in the camps to be mindful of people who may offer them school opportunities abroad or well paying jobs to lure them into human trafficking, and also asked them to always report such incidents.
“Some of the crimes we found in the camps include domestic violence, rape and environmental destruction. During our sensitization campaign, we encouraged refugees to also abide by Rwandan laws,” said SP Ruyenzi.
She pointed out that one of the major causes of domestic violence in refugee camps was identified to be infidelity of which refugees were informed that it’s illegal in the Rwandan laws.
SSP Ruyenzi farther pointed out that crimes of drug abuse were more rampant in Gihembe refugee camp.
“With the use of community policing, refugees were appealed to partner in fighting and preventing these crimes,” she said.
The community policing initiative is aimed at involving the public in security by encouraging them to report any suspicious activities in their neighborhood.
The community policing strategy, which is one of the RNP’s priorities to respond to crimes effectively, brings the public in solving localized problems like making specific improvements that enhance the overall quality of life in the community.
It increases a sense of responsibility for personal safety and problem-solving among citizens and shifts from a predominantly reactive response to service calls, to proactive problem solving and increases effectiveness at resolving community-wide problems which is in line with the force’s vision , where the people in Rwanda are safe, involved and reassured.
So far the community Policing approach has proved to be a successful crime reduction strategy with crime rates plummeting countrywide.
Currently, there are about 140,000 members of CPCs across Rwanda, who have been capacitated, including training and given mobile phones to provide timely information. This proactive policing approach is what is being introduced in refugee camps to ensure safety of refugees.
The campaign is aimed to reach out to all refugee camps in Rwanda.
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