Police Reform

Public Council members held informational session on police reform for population of Temurmalik, Baljuvon, Kulob and Vose districts

PC members held a meeting with the population of Dahana village of Kulob district on 11 September 2017. Some 60 participants took part in the meeting, including 2 local police inspectors.

PC members briefed the participants about the programme of police reform and the work carried out in this field. Also information about the objectives of the police reform progarmme and the “community policing” concept were clarified to the participants. Local district police inspector reported to participants on progress made in his work. It was his ever first report in front of the population. He asked the population to cooperate with him closely. The participants complained about unemployment in their village, which often leads to conflicts among youth. The participants made the following suggestions:

• Improve interaction between police and community
• Set-up a telephone hotline in the police department
• Frequently organize meetings of police and schoolchildren
• Inform about PC’s activity in wider public

PC members held a meeting with the residents of Kungurt village of Temurmalik district on 25 September 2017. Some 30 participants, such as active residents and leadership of the village as well as teachers from local schools participated at the meeting. PC members informed the participants about the history and implementation of the Police Reform Programme, its financial support by the OSCE, about the activities carried out in this area, the improvements of the legislative framework for effective implementation of the activities of the internal affairs bodies and the creation of electronic information bases. Also the participants were familiarized with the structure, provision, purpose and objectives of Public Councils. During the training the participants gained an understanding about "community policing" and interaction between police and community. The PC members called on citizens to cooperate with the police. At the end of the meeting district police inspector reported about his work carried out this year.

Suggestions/recommendations from participants:

• Bring the police and community closer
• Organize hot-line in police departments
• Frequent meetings of a district police inspector with schoolchildren
• Inform the residents about the work of PC
• Equip office of district police inspector with modern techniques for his work  
• Spread more information about the police reform among population
• Organization of meeting with the population of remote villages

The residents of the Sarikhosor village of Baljuvon district participated at informational meeting about police reform, which was organizes and conducted by PC members on 29 September 2017. Some 50 participants, such as leadership of the village, Chief of local police department, representatives of state institutions and youth participated in the meeting. PC members informed the participants about Police Reform Programme for 2014-2020 and establishment, provision, aims and objectives of the PC. During the meeting local police inspector reported to participants about his work. The report highlighted an active cooperation of Sark Khosor youth with local police. The participants expressed the hope to see their police physically and spiritually prepared, friendly and competent. Informational materials on police reform and PC were distributed to all participants during the meeting.

Suggestions/recommendations from participants

• Since the road leading to the centre of the district is unpaved  to organize passport office in the village of Sari Khosor
• Assist in construction and renovation of additional classes in local schools
• Assist in construction and equipping of village gym

PC members conducted a meeting with residents of Tugurak village of Vose district on 30 September 2017. Police reform and interaction between police issues were discussed at the meeting, which brought together 25 participants. When asked about the purpose of changing the name of "mitisiya" into "police", PC members clarified that main aim of police reform is to bring community and police closer, build the community's trust and transparence in the work of law enforcement agencies. During the meeting participants were split into groups and shared their knowledge about Police Reform Programme, competencies of law enforcement agencies, Government of Tajikistan and local authorities. The participants also discussed the various ways of police reform programme promotion in Tajikistan. The participants were satisfied with the results of the meeting and offered to conduct such meetings more often to improve the level of legal knowledge of the residents.  

Suggestions/recommendations from participants

• Strengthen interaction between police and community
• Provide the district police inspectors with transport for their travel to remote villages
• Organize installation of informational board in jamoats
• Assist in construction of a separate office for district police inspector