OSCE Office supports introduction of community policing in Armenia

YEREVAN, 20 March 2007 - Bringing police closer to the public and increasing citizens' confidence in police is the goal of an agreement signed today by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Armenian Police.

The agreement, which establishes a partnership between the Arabkir Police Station in Yerevan and the district's population, is part of the OSCE Police Assistance Programme. Using community policing, the programme aims to improve the exchange of information between the police and the population, resulting in more efficient crime prevention and investigation.

"Introducing community policing is a key component of OSCE Police Assistance because it aims to change the way police think, and the way the population perceives the police," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Colonel-General Hayk Harutyunyan, Head of the Armenian Police, added: "The signed document passed all the relevant internal agreement procedures and is approved by the Government of the Republic of Armenia."

Under the agreement, training sessions, coaching and other activities will be organized to raise Armenian police officers' awareness about the Council of Europe's Code of Police Ethics and human rights standards. The agreement also foresees the establishment of several Outreach Police Offices in the Arabkir district.