OSCE policing assistance goes online

When officials in OSCE participating States need quick access to the latest information on police-related assistance, they will now have a one-stop resource: the OSCE's Policing OnLine Information System (POLIS).

This new tool - an OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) project - brings together resources on all aspects of contemporary policing issues, including lessons learned and good practices in areas such as community policing, riot control and police training. If a state plans to train its police force on tackling domestic violence, for example, its authorities will easily find specific training curricula on the topic.

Designed to provide a multi-language environment, POLIS can be adapted to as many languages as needed. It will be officially launched in English and Russian on 24 November at the OSCE Police Chiefs Meeting in Brussels.

Pooling resources

POLIS has three main parts: a digital library, a database of policing experts and a mechanism to co-ordinate donor assistance. Using the Web as an information-sharing tool, policing practitioners will be able to share knowledge and information in all areas of international policing assistance. OSCE field operations and institutions will also have access to a pool of skilled professionals who can provide short-term expertise.

"POLIS has the capacity to deliver current policing knowledge and experiences directly into the offices of practitioners and officials throughout the OSCE Region," says the OSCE's Senior Police Adviser Kevin Carty. "It will greatly benefit police officers and policy-makers who seek to identify best international practices in various policing disciplines, including organized crime."

In addition, POLIS will include a calendar of policing-related events, announcements and a country-by-country policing profile database.

Co-ordinating activities and funding

To maximize the potential of POLIS, the OSCE has joined forces with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to further develop the latter's Automated Donor Assistance Mechanism (ADAM). ADAM aims to co-ordinate and optimize funding for policing activities carried out by the the two organizations and other international actors.

"The link with our international partners will help to avoid duplicating efforts and increase co-ordination of our policing activities," says Carty.

Alina Josan is POLIS' Project Co-ordinator: "Co-operation with other international organizations in the field of project co-ordination is vital." She explains that this year, after a series of consultations, the UNODC and the OSCE have agreed to start preparatory work for the ADAM-POLIS partnership. It is planned that in 2007 ADAM will provide a co-ordination function for POLIS.

What the future holds

An effective police force that is both trusted and respected is crucial for social, political and economic stability. It plays an important role in maintaining order during political crises and promoting post-conflict rehabilitation.

Since 2002, the Strategic Police Matters Unit has been co-ordinating assistance and providing expert advice to assist OSCE participating States and field operations achieve this kind of policing. In the Balkans, the SPMU has helped states and field missions build more modern, multi-ethnic and gender-balanced police forces.

In Kyrgyzstan, it helped introduce the first comprehensive policing assistance programme in Central Asia. And the Caucasus states of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have begun similar programmes.

"POLIS will now make this kind of assistance one step easier," says Josan.