30 November 2018, Juba — The South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) and the Organization for Non-Violence and Development (ONAD), along with Embassy of Japan, UN Police, and UNDP, officially launched the Jubek State Community Policing Broad Network in Juba on Friday.

“I want to thank all our partners for participating and continuing their support to community policing, our senior officers, and to the people gathered here today, who are working in their communities to bring understanding of the police and contribute to security. I am delighted to be here for the launch today,” said Gen. Majak Akech Malok, Inspector-General of SSNPS, during the launch ceremony held at Jubek Model Martyrs Secondary School.

Community policing provides the space and forum to bring together community leaders with police personnel deployed to their neighbourhoods, in order to promote cooperation in tackling crime. The broad network now operational in Jubek State, strengthens interlinkages between the Police Community Relations Committees (PCRCs), which provide a common platform to discuss local security issues and find workable solutions, implemented jointly by the community and the concerned police within their jurisdiction.

H.E. Seiji Okada, Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan, welcomed the gradual improvement of the security situations in South Sudan after the signing of the R-ARCSS. Based on his personal experience in his local town in Japan, he mentioned the very low crime rate in Japan because of mutual trust between police and local communities. “I expect that you will continue to utilize PCRC network for the security of your communities,” Ambassador Okada said.

With support from the Government of Japan, community policing programmes have been carried out in eight locations across South Sudan: Juba, Aweil, Wau, Bor, Yambio, Torit, Bentiu, and Maridi. In Jubek State, the Community Policing Broad Network includes 28 PCRC’s in Mauna, Nyakuron East and West, Kator, Gudele, Munuki, Malakia, Gumbo, and Rajaf.

PCRC meetings emphasize “know-your-area and identify crime” as a key theme. This has resulted in increased interaction between the police and the community which has partly contributed to an increase in cases reported to the police in jurisdictions where PCRCs exist.

“The success of the police is dependent on the role played by the community in efforts to prevent crime. This community policing network is a very admirable undertaking to achieve the shared goals of the police and the communities they serve. From our side, UNMISS will continue to provide support and collaborate with all partners to make sure this initiative carries forward at a grassroots level, here in Juba and across the country,” said Mr. Sambujang Fatty, representing UNMISS Police Commissioner Unaisi Lutu Vuniwaqa. Mr. Moses Manda, Executive Director of ONAD also thanked the Government of Japan for their support of the initiative.

“Regular interaction between community leaders and police results in exchange of advice, feedback and empowerment of the community to voice their concerns. Above all, it leads to strengthening the trust bond between the police and the people. Building this trust between the police and the communities is essential, and it is with this increased trust that the broad network can play a role in ensuring that the peace architecture of Jubek State is enhanced, thereby contributing to peace and sustainable development in South Sudan,” said UNDP Country Director Kamil Kamaluddeen during the ceremony.

##

For further information, please contact:

Kymberly Bays, UNDP Communications: +211920580239, kymberly.bays@undp.org

Yuki Ikawa, Embassy of Japan in South Sudan: +211922671504, yuki.ikawa@mofa.go.jp