BALKH - A community police unit was established within the Interior Ministry’s structure in the northern region with support from the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) last week. Officials said that it would help gain public trust towards the national police and bring them closer to each other.

Another initiative by the unit is a toll free number for the public to report crimes, corruption, and other violation of law, as well as emergencies such as fire. The line operates 24/7 enabling the community police to respond to every emergency call on time. An experimental phase of the programme is being launched in eight provinces of Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Kabul, and Kunduz. In the next three years, it will expand countrywide.

Its first branch opened in northeastern Baghlan province recently. In order to inform people about the call line, the Hungarian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) funded the purchase of 10,000 printed pens to advertise the free emergency call number – 100.

Baghlan’s police Chief Asadullah Shirzad recently told the media that three decades of war had given a different image of police forces to the people.

“They picture police officers as fighting militias and the community police aim to correct that perception by best showing good behaviours towards people which will win public trust and respect to them,” said Mr. Shirzad.

Some locals in Baghlan showed their optimism in the reliability of the community police force and said the programme seemed to be reliable.

As a starter, the community police have begun with six highly trained team members within the provincial police department who will train newcomers on public relations.

Source: Ariana News