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Study trip of Armenian Police Officers to the Netherlands

Description

The aim of the trip was to familiarize the Armenian Police with the integral security policy, particularly with police-public partnership model used in the Netherlands as well as to discuss the possibilities to implement similar projects in Armenia

Summary

A study trip to the Netherlands was organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in collaboration with the Dutch Police from 22-28 April 2012.

The delegation was composed of the police officials in charge of community policing and representative of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

During the visit the Delegation had an opportunity to visit the Dutch Regional Police (Hallands Midden), four different high schools (colleges), security staff of the one of the shopping malls, Mayor’s Office in Katwijk (a city in Halland Midden), police officers in charge of drug prevention, police officers who coordinate projects with schools, shopping malls and other partners. Mr. Nico van Ooik, the representative of the Hallands Midden Police, the coordinator of the study trip, presented to the representatives of the Armenian Police the main principles of the partnership model, how to identify the partners and how together with partners to solve local security related problems.

During the study trip the delegation has visited four different schools: high school where the level of the students is in general very high, the technical specialized college for students who will not continue their education in institutes, the catholic school with special attention to the students (individual approach to every student), security college whose students in future are allowed to enter the Police Academy. During the meetings at the high schools the delegation received information about different approaches and different ways of cooperation between the schools and the police. The different approaches were used taking into account the type of schools as well as the growing behavior of the students. Some of the schools signed a special partnership agreement with the police; some of them build their relationship with the police on the basis of long term, very well established personal contacts.

At the meeting with the Mayor of Katwijk the delegation had the chance to get acquainted with the concept of the integral approach to the security issues. The system of local governance is based on a triangle consultations approach: the mayor and the public prosecutor make agreements about security related local priorities, the local police chief acts as an advisor. These agreements are based on the municipal priorities (approved by the municipal council). The Mayor is in charge of the public order management and gives account to the municipal council about the way he exercises his authority over the police in this field.

The last day of the study trip was devoted to the discussion on effectiveness of the partnership model used in the Netherlands and the ways of introduction of a similar model in Armenia. It was decided to try to implement similar projects with four Armenian schools: two in Mashtots districts and two in Arabkir. It was agreed that the Deputy Heads of Service of Mashtots and Arabkir Police districts would visit the schools to identify the existing security related problems, would identify appropriate partners and design small projects on how to solve the revealed problems. Mr. Nico van Ooik will visit Armenia in June and then in September to help Armenian colleagues to establish a team of partners for solving problems as well as to implement the projects.