OSCE-supported Neighborhood Watch project expands to Kyrgyzstan's regions
KARAKOL, Kyrgyzstan, 23 September 2010 - A Neighborhood Watch project that has successfully operated in Bishkek for four years was expanded to Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul province today.
Two Neighbourhood Watch areas were created in Karakol as part of the community policing project that is being implemented with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.
Tarmo Viikmaa, the OSCE Police Reform Programme's the Community Policing Adviser, said: "The Neighborhood Watch initiative proved its effectiveness in Bishkek city and this has lead to project's expansion and establishment of new sectors in Karakol town. The project is a great example of fruitful and constructive co-operation between civil society, the police and local authorities to strengthen public safety."
The creation of Neighbourhood Watch sectors in Karakol was welcomed by the local police and administration. Jalil Ilipbaev, the head of the Issyk-Kul province Police Department, said: "The town needs initiatives to promote public safety, and the police will do their best to assist Neighbourhood Watch development in Karakol."
The creation of the new Neighbourhood Watch areas will be accompanied by the training for the project's co-ordinator, a competition on safety and ecology issues in Bishkek and Karakol and a study trip to Estonia for two police officers, one representative of local self-government and four representatives of the NGO Neighborhood Watch to learn about Estonian best practices in this area.
The Neighbourhood Watch project is a part of the OSCE Police Reform Programme for Kyrgyzstan implemented by NGO Neighborhood Watch.