Police Reform

Community Policing Program

Community Policing is both a philosophy and an organizational strategy that allows the police and community to work together to solve problems of crime, social disorder, safety, security, and quality of life.  As the foundation of the Government of Tajikistan’s police reform, INL/TEG’s Community Policing Program aims to improve the MVD’s capacity to serve Tajik citizens in a human rights-compliant manner that upholds the rule of law and toenhance citizens’ trust in the police.Our program has two complementary components:  (1) top-down, working to institutionalize community policing in the MVD through strategic, operational, and tactical planning advice and assistance, and professionalizing the police through development and delivery of community policing training for officers of all ranks; and (2) bottom-up, establishing sustainable, collaborative problem-solving partnerships—composed of police officers, local government representatives, religious and civil society leaders, and community members, including women and youth—for identifying and addressing local community concerns.  Through community policing, the police and the people jointly use tools and processes to manage, resolve, and prevent destabilizing crime and conflict, locally, regionally, and nationally.

Program achievements (2010-2012):

• Community Policing Partnership Teams (CPPTs) have been established and are fully functioning in six (6) districts with approximately 200 police, government, and community representatives participating:   Rasht and Jirgatol (Rasht Valley); Farkhor andKumsangir (Khatlon Region); and BobojonGhafurov and Qairoqqum (Sughd Region).
• Through self-initiative and a multiplier effect, secondary CPPTs have been established and community policing training delivered in villages and among youth. 
• Eleven (11) Community Policing Centers (CPCs) have been established in four districts(Rasht (3), Jirgatol (2),Kumsangir (3), and Qairoqqum (3) via CPPT-MVD Community Policing Implementation Plans, to sustain district-wide community policing initiatives and support local partnerships and problem-solving processes.  They are co-located within central police stations, territorial inspectors’ offices (sub-stations), or local government buildings.  Three additional CPCs will be established in Farkhor (2) and BobojonGhafurov (2).
• Two community policing youth camps (“Youth for Safer Communities”) have been hosted to strengthen partnerships between youth and police.  Approximately 100 CPPT youth members and 20 juvenile police officers have participated
• A central-level Community Policing Working Group (CPWG), composed of police, government, and civil society leaders, meets monthly to provide oversight, coordination, and support  of Tajikistan-wide community policing initiatives. 
• MVD has committedto expanding community policing throughout Tajikistan as part of the police reform process.

Planned activities (2012-2013):

• Strengthen existing CPPTs through mentoring, monitoring, and training of trainers, and monitor and support existing CPCs.
• Establish six new CPPTs in Panjakent and Aini (Sughd Region); Panj (Khatlon Region); Khorugh (GBAO); and Vahdat and Tursunzoda (Region of Republican Subordination).
• Establish at least one CPC in each new district in cooperation with the MVD and CPPTs.
• Empower youth through community policing training and camps.
• Raise public awareness about community policing through information campaigns and targeted workshops.
• Work closely with the MVD, OSCE, and other national and international partners to further institutionalize community policing in the police reform, including the proposed Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG).

The Community Policing Program is included in the letter of agreement between the Government of the United States and the Republic of Tajikistan, signed on May 5, 2009.

Funded by: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Affairs, U.S. Embassy, Dushanbe

Implementer:   The Emergence Group (TEG)

Implementing partners: Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), local government, communities

Timeframe:  May 2010- March 2013 

Contacts: