KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday 8th October 2015, residents of Abdul Asiis district, in Banaadir region welcomed community policing initiative from Somalia Police Force (SPF) and AMISOM Police Unit.
The residents were urged to embrace community policing as sure means of fighting crime within their locality and for broader good of the country, Somalia.
The meeting held in a town hall was attended by local elders, women, youths and members of the business fraternity.
The Somali Police Force (SPF) and AMISOM Formed Police Unit of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have launched similar initiative across the country.
The meeting was hosted and presided by the District commissioner Osman Ali Ariif, together with SPF and AMISOM police officers.
PARTNERSHIP OBJECTIVE
The objective of the partnership was to enlighten the community the importance of sharing intelligence and crime reporting in the district.
On his part the District Commissioner stressed the important role of local residents joining hands with security authorities to ensure their nieghbourhoods are safe and secure.
The Commissioner reassured the residents to volunteer in giving police information/intelligence citing that their details will be treated with utmost secret and in confidence.
Locals also were given police hotline number 888 where they can report crime activities discretely and anonymously.
SUMMARY & FORECAST
AMISOM Police Unit has been training the Somali Police Force on how to handle various crime occurrences.
The joint partnership in community policing sensitization in various districts across Somalia has started bearing success fruits with community beginning to trust and viewing police as partners in curbing crimes and more so in effort of rooting violent extremism.
On her part SPF community liaison officer, Lieutenant colonel Fatuma Hassan Mohamed, welcomed the community policing and pledged her support to the community as well as to the Abdul Asiis district administration.
Speaking on behalf AMISOM Police Unit, PIO Inspector Edwin Mugera, appreciated community embracing this initiative and building a close working relation between the district administration, the Somali police force and AMISOM police.
Community policing is an initiative that involves a close working relationship between members of the public and security authorities. In Kenya similar partnership has been in place for some years.
Mugera stressed that the rolled out programme will continue and cited it is part of an on-going strategy SPF and AMISOM Police have developed aimed at building partnerships with communities with objective of curbing crime, fast tracking reporting of crimes and enhancing security.
