OSCE Office and Armenian police launch community policing in Yerevan

YEREVAN, 30 May 2012 – A meeting on community policing as the new model of operation in the Armenian capital Yerevan from 1 June was held today by the Armenian police with the support of the OSCE Office.

“The OSCE Office in Yerevan has been supporting the introduction and implementation of the community policing model for several years now, as part of efforts to establish democratic policing practices in Armenia. The OSCE Office will continue its support after the launch of the new working model in Yerevan,” said Lilian Salaru, Politico-Military Officer of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

It is envisaged to establish community policing units with around 300 police officers throughout the city. The OSCE Office supported a three-week intensive practical training earlier this year for the police officers involved.

Arthur Osikyan, Deputy Head of the Armenian Police, added: “Community policing is a specific direction of policing based on close co-operation between police and community and is aimed at the effective solution of community problems and render quality policing services.”

At today’s event, guidelines for police officers that were developed by a community policing expert from the United Kingdom, David I’Anson, with OSCE assistance were presented to representatives of Yerevan police districts and the media. The guidelines are intended to provide an easy-to-use tool, supported with practical examples, for understanding best international practice in community policing within the context of policing in Armenia.

An electronic version of the guidelines is available at //www.osce.org/yerevan/90910.

For more information please contact Ms. Gohar Avagyan, National Public Information Officer, OSCE Office in Yerevan, at (+ 374 10) 22 96 10/ 11/12/13/14 ext. 5406, cell (+ 374 91) 436389.