The Republic of Srpska

COMMUNITY POLICING - HISTORY

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GOALS OF COMMUNITY POLICING

• Improvement of quality of life

• Enhancement of security situation, reduction of crime

• Increase and improvement of the feeling of security, both subjective and objective

• Establishment of stronger connections with citizens and all social segments through fostering collaboration, which contributes to strengthening trust

• Understanding and respecting citizens' needs

• Seeking long-term solutions

• Addressing local security issues

INITIAL PILOT PROJECTS IN REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

• Initial activities in the field of community policing were initiated in 2002 in cooperation with IPTF personnel, exchange of experience with police from developed countries worldwide, collaboration with numerous international organizations, changes in neighboring countries, and membership in various associations contributed to the concretization of initial initiatives.

• The pilot project "Community Policing and Community Safety" in the municipality of Prijedor was implemented in cooperation with the British Department for International Development (DFID) from October 2003 to December 2005.

• In 2004, EUPM began implementing several projects in BiH, including the so-called 5.5 and 5.4, "Community Policing" and "Strengthening the Capacity of Local Police Regarding the Security of Returnees," with the pilot phase concluding at the end of 2005.

INTENSIFICATION OF WORK AND CONTINUATION OF COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

• In early 2007, cooperation started with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Various educational activities (seminars and workshops) were jointly organized. Experiences were exchanged, and three study visits to Switzerland were organized. Multiple preventive campaigns were conducted, and the field of community policing became a regular subject at the High School of Internal Affairs and the Police Academy in Banja Luka. A Manual for Community Policing in Bosnia and Herzegovina was developed, and reception areas in four police facilities of the Ministry of the Republic of Srpska were renovated.

• At the initiative of the British agency "Safeworld" and the Center for Security Studies from Sarajevo (CSS), a draft Manual on Police and Community Partnership was prepared.

• In collaboration with UNDP, the "Safe Communities" project is being implemented, with Prijedor, Višegrad, and Bratunac from the Republic of Srpska chosen as pilot municipalities.

• As part of the cooperation with SEPCA (Association of Police Chiefs of Southeast Europe), representatives of the Ministry of the Republic of Srpska participated in the implementation of all activities of the working group for community policing.

INDEPENDENT PROJECTS

• Policing in Multi-ethnic Environments

• Local Forums for Citizen Safety

• School Police Officer

• Open Door Days