The Minister of Interior, Dr. Vincent Biruta held a meeting with the Rwanda National Police (RNP) leadership, heads of departments, units and senior officers, on Tuesday, August 27, at the General Headquarters in Kacyiru.
Dr. Biruta, who was received by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), CG Felix Namuhoranye, thanked the force for its policing professionalism and supporting the national development agenda through human security activities.
The Minister pointed out that despite the existing, the RNP has made a milestone to make people in Rwanda safe and reassured.
“As we look back to what the Police has achieved since it was established, let us continue to look forward on what more should be done to be ahead of the evolving security landscape”, he said.
He emphasized the need to address the issue of delinquents, school dropouts and investing more in technology and crime prevention.
“The numbers we have for community policing groups like youth volunteers in community policing and Agents of Change should add vibrancy in addressing challenges affecting the young people,” Minister Biruta added.
IGP Namuhoranye said that RNP is putting more efforts in people-centred policing; working and supporting community-policing groups as part of its community policing and human security initiatives.
Currently, there are over 1.9 million members of youth volunteers across the country, who contribute tremendously in many human security activities, including awareness against crimes; fighting drug abuse, GBV, child abuse, and fighting malnutrition. They were particularly instrumental in the implementation of the national directives to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agents of Change (Imboni z’Impinduka) is also a group composed of rehabilitated delinquents, who graduate from rehabilitation centres. It is an initiative aimed at helping rehabilitated delinquents by providing coordination, orientation, monitoring, advocacy, and community support to contribute to crime prevention and advocate for their socio-economic opportunities.
IGP Namuhoranye also said that the scaling up of technology to different police services such as body-worn cameras and in traffic related services is meant to improve service delivery, fight corruption, work smart, ensure transparency, justice and accountability. (End)