Skopje Mission helps Citizens' Advisory Groups to strengthen trust between people and police
The concept of community policing was first introduced to the country in 2002. With the support of the OSCE Mission, the Ministry developed a plan to implement a new approach to policing that aims to create a co-operative partnership between police and citizens.
"The Citizens' Advisory Groups are one of the foundation stones of the community policing concept," says Philip Tolson, Head of the Mission's Police Development Unit.
Local problems, local solutions
"We have supported the Ministry in implementing community policing activities, including citizen outreach initiatives aimed at improving inter-community relations. At CAG meetings they work together to find local solutions to local problems."
Initially, the Ministry focused on the northern and western regions of the country. However, the situation there has improved considerably and the approach has been so successful that it was introduced all over the country.
"We are an important link between the government and society," says Ilco Gjorgjiev, a police officer from the multi-ethnic municipality of Chair in Skopje who is a regular participant in CAG gatherings.
"The meetings are extremely useful. The more we sit down and talk to our community representatives and municipal officials, the less we will have to do in the future. People know us, we know them and together we can solve their problems."
Ensuring long-term sustainability
A key to the success of the CAGs is that each member brings their own unique knowledge and experience. But as the Mission's Community Police Trainer Thomas Botterman explains, in order to ensure long-term sustainability, it is important for the participants to further develop their skills.
"Together with local experts, we designed a series of capacity-building workshops for CAG members, which were held in October and November 2006 in Bitola, Skopje, Prilep, Gevgelija and Kocani.
"About 370 people were trained in local self-governance, partnership building, problem solving and project proposal writing, which will enable the advisory groups to ensure better police services at the municipal level."
Targeting youth and minorities
Additionally, a number of "thematic" CAGs have been created in order to increase awareness among young people and their parents and teachers of issues such as crime prevention.
"Visits to the schools are part of my job," says Gjorgi Ackoski, a police officer with more than 30 years' experience who is Head of Security in Karpos municipality.
"After speaking to the students and teachers, I understood that a better working relationship was needed, so we created a special CAG where each of the seven schools in Karpos municipality was represented by a student as well as by teachers and psychologists."
There is also another thematic CAG focusing on Roma issues in the Shuto-Orizari municipality of Skopje, which has a predominantly ethnic Roma population.
Future plans
The community policing initiative in Skopje is supported by the Embassies of the Netherlands and the UK, as well as the Open Society Institute. Further activities are planned for 2007, including a nationwide drug abuse awareness campaign.
Community policing standards and values are also being introduced by other OSCE States, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro and Serbia, as well in Kosovo by the OSCE Mission there.
But the last word goes to the Mayor of Skopje, Trifun Kostovski: "I am happy to see that our citizens now have a different picture of the police.
"Thanks to the OSCE's efforts, the community policing concept has become a part of our society and improved the image of officers in uniform. Today, the police are a part of the community they serve."