OSCE Mission funds first "Police Open Day" in Tbilisi

TBILISI, 30 May 2007 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, the Georgian Deputy Minister of the Interior and more than 200 schoolchildren will participate in Tbilisi's first police open day on Friday, 1 June.

Ambassador Roy Reeve and Deputy Minister Ekaterine Zghuladze will join the seven-to-fifteen-year-old children as they meet neighbourhood police officers and dog handlers at Didi-Digomi police station and learn about police techniques and crime prevention.

The open day, which is funded by the OSCE Mission to Georgia, is part of the Mission's police assistance programme aimed at developing community policing in Georgia.

"We are pleased to support the efforts of the Georgian government to introduce principles of modern community policing," said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, Ambassador Roy Reeve, ahead of the event.

"This type of event enhances the confidence of the community in the police, which in turn should boost local crime prevention efforts and co-operation," he added.

The event will take place in Tbilisi, Didi-Digomi police station, 1 Petre Iberi St. on 1 June, at 13.00. Journalists who are interested in attending the event should contact the Georgian Ministry of the Interior or the press office of the OSCE Mission to Georgia.

Contacts:
Nato Javhakisvili
Project coordinator of the Ministry of Interior
Tel: +995 99 51 46 30

Martha Freeman
Spokesperson, Press and Public Information Office
Tel: +995-32 20 23 03