OSCE launches new guidebook on community policing in preventing terrorism

VIENNA, 17 March 2014 – The role of community policing in preventing terrorism and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism is the subject of a new guidebook launched by the OSCE in Vienna today.

The guidebook, Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Community-Policing Approach, provides practical guidance for policy makers and senior police professionals on the key issues that can impact the success or failure of community-policing approaches in fighting terrorism. It can also serve as a useful resource for members of civil society with an interest in these issues, in particular community leaders.

“Because there is always a local dimension to terrorism, communities have emerged as the point of focus in the formulation and implementation of counter-terrorism policies.” said Alexey Lyzhenkov, Director of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department. “Therefore, community policing, with its focus on establishing police-public partnerships among the police, other public authorities and communities for proactive problem solving, can make a tangible and dura¬ble contribution to preventing terrorism and countering terrorist radicalization.”

Snježana Bokulić, Head of ODIHR’s Human Rights Department said, “When community policing is pursued in its own right and as a genuine application of democratic policing, it can help increase the effectiveness of police action to counter terrorism, by anchoring it into respect for human rights and the rule of law.”

The guidebook covers key concepts and provides guidance on specific issues, such as transparency and accountability of police operations; tasking and training for community police officers; communicating to and exchanging information with the public; engaging with communities; inter-agency coordination; and evaluation.

The publication of the guidebook was made possible through financial support from Australia, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the United States.

The publication is available both online and in print.