OSCE Office sponsors computer system to enhance police effectiveness in Baku

BAKU, 10 December 2004 - A new computer system which allows district police departments to build a common database of violations, accidents and crimes, started working today in Baku.

Created with the help of the OSCE Office in Baku as part of the OSCE Police Assistance Programme for Azerbaijan, the project is aimed at strengthening institutions responsible for effective law enforcement and respect for the rule of law.

The new system links databases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and departments and services of the city police departments. It will help record all criminal activities, prepare analytical and statistical reports and, for the first time, enable each force and police department to share, access and analyse data.

"Within the law enforcement agencies and police, the effective, secure use of information plays a vital role in improving operational efficiency," said Maharram Aliyev, chief of the Baku City Police Department (BCPD). "We believe that our successful co-operation in this area will bring the Baku police to a new level of professionalism."

Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi, Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, said: "This system is another example of our commitment to help develop the professional skills and efficiency of the police force of Azerbaijan.

"We hope that the establishment of this system will help police to better serve members of the public and to create a safer community in which to live and work."

The next step of co-operation will be providing all police departments in Baku and surrounding districts with necessary computer equipment and creating a website of the BCPD which will provide web-users with real-time information on the main tasks of the department, its personnel, reported crimes, vehicle theft, wanted criminals, as well as offer free legal advice.

The OSCE Police Assistance Programme for Azerbaijan was designed together with the Azerbaijani Government.