Tanzanian commanders receive training in community policing

Tanzanian Police Regional commanders participated in a one-week community policing and customer care programme at the Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute in Arusha, Tanzania, from 22 to 26 March 2010.

This programme, in which 35 commanders participated, follows similar training for 110 police officers over the last year.

The overall objective of this initiative - funded by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation - is to equip police officers and commanders with skills and knowledge in community policing, given that it is a relatively new and innovative approach to provision of security and rule of law. They will then be in a position to drive and champion community policing at all levels of the police force.

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Regional Adviser for East Africa, Dunstan Maina, commended the leadership of the Police Force “for the commitment shown in facilitating the training of senior police officers and for embracing the community policing approach.”

He appealed to the force “to be more gender sensitive by ensuring more women were considered for senior leadership positions in the police force.” Mr Maina noted that studies have shown that community policing achieves better results where there is greater involvement and participation by women, both at the force and community levels.

Key Links:

• Public Sector Development
• Country Profile: Tanzania