UNIPATH STAFF
The Afghan Ministry of Interior has created a Community Policing Directorate — part of a larger plan to transform the Afghan National Police (ANP) from an agency dedicated to countering extremism to focusing on daily law enforcement and community policing.
The new directorate is part of the ANP’s 10-year strategic plan developed in early 2013. Minister of Interior Mohammed Omer Daudzai said in a speech, “By 2024, the ANP will be smaller in number, higher in quality, professional, impartial, capable, and less dependent on international assistance. It should be enjoying public trust and participation with a primary focus on rule of law without any discrimination.”
One of the new programs aimed at achieving the ANP’s goals is the Afghan Democratic Policing Project, which was being introduced in 10 provinces in 2013. Supported by the United Nations, the three-year program supports Police-e Mardumi, or community police teams. These teams interact with communities, conduct outreach programs in schools and train female police officers to aid female victims of crime or violence. They will ultimately work in all 34 provinces to solve violent crimes.
The Ministry of Interior aims to employ 5,000 female police officers by 2015, up from 1,500 in 2013.
Sources: European Union Police Mission Afghanistan, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan