Nyala, March 20(Darfur24)On Monday, South Darfur police celebrated the graduation of the first batch of community police forces, after the decision of the Ministry of Interior to return them in August of last year.
The graduating batch were 564 community policing affiliates , including 189 women, in addition to some recruits from IDP camps in the state.
The Director of the Community Police in Sudan, Brigadier General Muhammad Salih, said that this batch is the first police force specialized in the field of community police work in Sudan, and indicated that this batch will be the first nucleus for implementing the principles and objectives of the community police in the state.
He stated that the community police strategy is based on encouraging the public to work as partners with the police to prevent and manage crime, in addition to other aspects related to the security and safety of society.
Saleh explained that the decision to establish the community police stipulated that it be in accordance with international standards, and added, “This batch received lectures in the field of international criminal law by experts from UNITAMS mission”
He stated that this force will be distributed in 11 community centers in the city of Nyala, in addition to the community centers that have been prepared in a number of localities in the state.
Southern Darfur Police Director Major General Mohamed Ahmed Abdullah Al-Zein said that the state police seeks through this batch to create a true partnership between them and the community, so this batch was carefully selected and that some of its members are from the camps for the displaced.
While the governor of South Darfur, Hamid Hanoun, called on the state community to cooperate with these forces to play its role in maintaining security and stability. He stated that the graduation of this batch coincides with the ongoing efforts to form a civil government to complete the democratic transition process. He added, “At this stage, the community police will have an important role in establishing Principles of civil rule sought by the Sudanese people.”