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Prevention programme conference, Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Description

The goals of the Conference were: to introduce the Community Policing Management manual and to discuss the role of Prevention Units within the host country police service, as well as to learn about best practices on community policing from Slovenia.

Summary

The OSCE Mission to Skopje has made considerable progress in the development and implementation of Community Based Policing since 2006. As a result of these efforts Prevention Units were established at the level of each SIA. These units were independent bodies being responsible only to the Heads of the SIA. It was noticed however, that in 2009 that some of the units were more productive and efficient than others.

Feedback received from co-locators indicated that some Heads of SIAs had not fully understood their roles in how to utilize community policing tools to meet objectives - specifically the newly formed Prevention Units. This had resulted in confusion amongst police staff and a growing mistrust between the Police and the public. In some areas with mixed communities the problem manifested itself as a perception of abandonment by the police and a feeling of vulnerability by some citizens.

Project Goal and Objectives:
 

The main goals of this project were:

  • To increase the knowledge of the MoIA regional managers in supporting effective police prevention services according to the needs of a multi cultural society.
  •  To sustain community policing practices and further develop methods of democratic policing at a de-centralized level.

These goals would increase the capacity of the MoIA managers to effectively use community policing tools in developing their management objectives. The project also aimed to continue the institutionalization of Community Based Policing at the de-centralized level by increasing the knowledge of the MoIA managers on prevention methods and techniques and through the implementation of the community policing mechanisms.

Project Activities:

A one day conference was held on the 3rd of June, 2010 in which 56 members attended including 8 Heads of SIA, 8 Deputy Heads of SIA, together with other key personnel from ICITAP and CIVIPOL. 

Each participant received an OSCE folder containing materials relating to the conference - Power Point Presentations, Community Policing Management manual in both languages and the LPC Manual.

Results:

The conference revolved around the use of prevention in police work and the use of prevention tools in meeting managerial objectives. PDD representatives presented the Manual on Community Policing, the HC MoIA representatives and Head of Prevention from the Slovenian MoIA talked about the structures of their respective Departments, while the Director of Police Directorate of Maribor, Slovenia held a presentation on the role of prevention activities in fulfilling his managerial tasks. At the conclusion of the event managers were better informed of their roles and it was decided that such events to discuss prevention tools and activities should form part of future managerial development.