SRI in cooperation with the British Council mobilize awareness in Community Policing

SRI in cooperation with the British Council mobilize awareness in Community Policing

Video File (http://radiocommentary.blogspot.com/2015/04/sri-in-cooperation-with-british-council.html?)

Davao City (April 21, 2015-repost) – Awareness program on community policing is now in its implementation stage initiated by the Security Reform Initiative, Incorporated (SRI), of the Ateneo de Manila in cooperation with the British Council in the Philippines, launched “The Golden Thread Community Policing Project Partnership”, at the Crown residences, Agdao, Davao City. 

The United Kingdom (UK) Government has provided assistance in the peace process through the UK government Golden Thread Funding secured by the British Council towards the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Article 11, Section 11, “The Bangsamoro Police shall adopt community policing as an essential mechanism in maintaining peace and order.”

Phillip Thomson, the Golden Thread Team Leader, a retired Police General in the UK, said that the Golden Thread is focusing on programmes that weave together the values and conditions that lead to more stable, prosperous and ultimately successful societies, including work in open government and society, peace and security, culture and development. The British Council was founded in 1934, with 200 offices in over 100 countries around the world and operated in the Philippines since 1978. The British Council creates opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries with the aim of Building trust and cultural relationships.

At center: Pieter Conje, lead trainer

Thomson said the UK has funded the project delivered by the British Council. The project is about the community awareness and consultation program, aiming towards the development of a community policing strategy and tool kit that reflects local people’s views in the way they are policed. Feedback will be given as a result of the project. He said awareness raising, Consultation and feedback will involve ordinary citizens, media and main institutions relative to the policing process. The production of a community policing strategy and blueprint is based on International best practice and local consultation.

Training participants with trainers

The SRI implemented the training of facilitators in preparation for the full implementation on community policing awareness program to be conducted mostly in the Bangsamoro area and other conflict affected areas in Mindanao. The topics of the training is focused on the role of police in the Philippines, the role of community in policing and in general the concept of community policing that can be easily understood by the people.

Workshop on the moved

Community policing trainor, Pieter Conje, a retired African Police General, said that community policing is a method of policing based on the joint effort of the citizen and the police who work together towards alleviating neighborhood problems. Together they also attempt to satisfy the expressed need of citizens in order to enhance community resident’s quality of life. In this type of Policing, police officers and citizens work together to identify problems and resolve them. The police officer acts as the catalyst, moving the citizens towards solving their own problems and cooperating for common protection.

Back-to-back communication workshop

Conje said since community policing exists in many countries and in many different cultural settings, there are many definitions of what it is. He said there is danger of community policing becoming meaningless “buzzword.” Therefore, the emphasis here will be on principles and components of community policing, as well as case studies, to help with any confusion. Conje said community policing is a philosophy and an organizational strategy that promotes a new partnership between communities and their police. Both the police and community work together as partners to identify, prioritize and solve contemporary problems such as crime, drugs, fear of crime, social and physical disorder, and overall neighborhood decay, with the goal of improving the overall quality of life in the area.

Phillip Thomson discussed with participants

Participant's report, Tina Lomoljo (standing)

 Conje said community policing is NOT “soft” on crime. Actually, a police officer that is involved in a system of community policing makes more arrests, since the community makes more information available.  He said community policing allows for the police officer to deal with a wide range of community problems in addition to law enforcement, and not instead of law enforcement. Community policing is “smarter” policing, since the police officer realizes that arrests are merely one of the solutions to crime or disorder in the community. The community police officer concentrates also on the causes of crime and disorder, to find permanent solutions to the problems.

Standing, Trainer Phillip Thomson

During this day, a memorandum of agreement signing ceremony was conducted between the SRI and the British Council for the implementation of the Bangsamoro Community Policing Project, aims to help shape and develop a secure and stable post-conflict scenario in the Bangsamoro through the practice of community policing. Project Objectives is to establish awareness of community policing basic concepts and practices; consult concerned communities about its role in community policing; Build relationships and confidence with concerned communities through feedback lines; Capacitate and develop key individuals in the community as champions on the basic concepts and practices of community policing; and Strengthen community ownership through local follow-up dialogues in pilot communities with different stakeholders of community policing.

Kath Tolosa with partners

At right, Fr. Chito Suganob with Lanao Sur team

During the signing ceremony, the SRI was represented by Kathline Tolosa, SRI Convenor and for the British Council was represented by Nicholas Thomas, Country Director. Thomas said this project will define the role of UK in the peace process between the GPH-MILF. UK will continue to grow on community policing and develop the context and design to implement the project the way it gets results. The British Council approaches are work on justice and conflict resolution, working 25 years or so in Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East and other countries. The British Council works with SRI as partner on this project which has experienced on security in Mindanao.

Final posed of Trainees & trainers

Pieter Conje teaches ancient counting using stick

On the other hand, Tolosa look back from couple of years ago a focus group discussion in communities held for Conflict resolution in Sulu and other parts of Mindanao were conducted. She said "in Bantay Bayanihan we have perfect mechanism with different stakeholders come together with small pockets of hope available." She said what they are trying to do for the next round of months is to make the concept of community policing to be realized. 

Davao tourism @ organic food resto

In behalf of SRI, Tolosa expressed heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the British Council and the people of the United Kingdom for their commitment through the Golden Thread Programme as partner in the implementation of the Community Policing Project Partnership and in supporting the Bangsamoro community with compassion. She also extended her thanks and gratitude to Bantay Bayanihan partners because without them the project will not be made possible and the community policing project will journey with them together. Video file report & photos by Jun Enriquez.