Additional Inspector General of Police, Mr. Naim Ahmed, BPM, Principal of the Bangladesh Police Academy at Sardah, Rajshahi

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Changing the Way We Think About Public SecuritySeptermber 2012

Community Policing Highlights

• 1992 creation of Town Defense Party in Mymenshing and Stick and Whistle Party in Natore.

• 1995 – 1997 introduction of community policing among Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

• 2005 and 2006 launch in Rajshahi and Rangpur.

• 2007 – 2009 development of national mandate for community policing.

Additional IGP and Academy Principal Naim Ahmed Distributes TOT Accreditation Certificates

Building confidence and trust between the police and people is a pre-condition for turning the police into a serving institution. By co-operating with each other, police and people can prevent crime, keep peace, and resolve social problems. However, without active public participation, police cannot fulfill their expectations to a satisfactory level. Police alone are insufficient. Developing and establishing partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve protects life and property.

Community policing is a recent venture in Bangladesh. It launched in 1992 in Mymenshing as the “Town Defense Party” with 60 groups that ensured the security of 250,000 people. Soon after, the “Stick and Whistle Party (Lathi-Bashi Bahini)” appeared in Natore to protect businessmen from illegal tolls and extortion. Subsequently, from 1995- 1997, community policing was introduced in Dhaka, and then in Rangpur and Rajshahi. Ultimately, between 2007 and 2009, community policing gained momentum nationwide and began to involve station “Open Houses” that hold the police more accountable to the people and give citizens a chance to participate in decision-making.

Enthusiasm for community policing has increased among the public and police. It is the subject of seminars, conferences and forums. Both people and police have gained knowledge of the positive results of community policing. But still, we have to move toward greater implementation, removal of impediments, and stronger political support to taste success.

Community policing is defined as a philosophy and management strategy in which police and public work in partnership to prevent crime, maintain law and order, and resolve social problems. But who should take the lead in making this system popular? At the initial stage, the police must furnish citizens with a clear idea of what it means, as well as build interest in forming police-citizen partnerships.

Proper communication and motivation are crucial in this process.

Since police have to take the dominant role at the beginning, they should be well equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes for practicing the community policing approach. The Bangladesh Police in general, and the Academy in particular, are endeavoring to engage with different foreign organizations to deliver training on community policing and other subjects to current and future officers.

The Asia Foundation, among others, has conducted two batches of training-of-trainer (TOT) courses on Community Policing for Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors of Rajshahi and Rangpur Range at the Bangladesh Police Academy this year. In response to our request, they are also co-teaching a community policing course with these accredited instructors for Cadet Sub-inspectors and Probationary Assistant Superintendents (ASP) undergoing basic training at the Academy. The courses are taught by the instructors according to the developed lesson plans on (a) what is meant by community policing, (b) the SARA model for problem solving, (c) operation of Community Policing Forums and related topics. The outcome is, out of the target group of 37 Probationary ASPs and over 1,000 Cadet Sub-Inspectors, all of the 37 Probationary ASPs and 200 Cadet Sub-Inspectors have already completed their course. The others are waiting for the course to be resumed in the coming month. Trainees are showing great enthusiasm and interest. They find such programs a good opportunity to avail an international course.

Mr. Saleh Mohammed Tanvir, Superintendant of Police (SP) for the Rangpur District

An Interview with a Community Policing Advocate

Earlier this year the Asia Foundation had the opportunity to sit with a committed and longtime supporter of community policing, SP Mr. Saleh Mohammed Tanvir, in his office in the Rangpur District. Below is an excerpt from the discus-sion that took place.

Asia Foundation: When did you join the Bangladesh Police?

Mr. Tanvir: I joined in 1998. Honestly speaking, I had no special intentions. As a young graduate, I was simply looking for a job at the time. However, I enjoyed my work immediately. I loved the uniform, the discipline, the system. It all inspired me somehow. I thought that the time and place were right to serve my people.

Asia Foundation: When did you start participating in community policing, and what was your general perception of it before you began?

Mr. Tanvir: While working in the Gaibandha District as an SP, I had the opportunity to be a part of community policing at the field level. At that time, I had only a very general idea of what community policing was. Sometimes I thought community policing could help control crime, but other times I treated it as an addition to my ongoing workload. Eventually, however, I found that community policing does actually reduce crime and is excellent for citizen-police partnerships that prevent problems.

Mr. Shahidul Haque, Ex-Deputy Inspector General for the Rajshahi Range and current Additional Inspector General-Admin, inspired me and other officers. At first, we faced limitations and misinterpretations of the concept; however, gradu-ally, people began to acknowledge its importance. We used community policing to raise awareness and gain support, frequently through district rallies and public forums.

Asia Foundation: Did you see any significant changes in the community and its people?

Mr. Tanvir: Yes, our approach worked! We had a tremendous response from the local people. They contacted us frequently to work together on crime reduction.

Asia Foundation: Besides your initial efforts in Gaibandha, what are some of your other memorable experiences promoting community policing?

Mr. Tanvir: I had a very memorable experience while working on an early marriage case. I had been highlighting the issue during a public rally when, just a few days later, I received a call from a girl who attended the event. She was under 18 and wanted to continue her studies; however, her parents were arranging a marriage for her. Thankfully though, we were able to solve the problem after a fruitful discussion with the family. After that, I spent a lot of time educating and working with people to reduce the overall trend toward early marriage.

Domestic violence is an ongoing problem that Community Policing Forums (CPF) are working with police to address. In one case in Rajshahi, a woman who had been married for 5 years became a victim of severe violence. She heard about the efforts of local CPF members and decided to attend a monthly meeting to discuss her issue. Forum members informed her that domestic violence is a frequent problem, and agreed to help. The case was brought to the attention of the local Community Policing Officer, who warned the woman’s husband that domestic violence is a serious crime punishable by law. After much consultation with community leaders, the couple decided to try to make their marriage work. One year later, CPF members and police continue to visit the family and report that their issue of domes-tic violence has been addressed.

Achievements like this have encouraged women to come forward and speak loudly about their problems. Until recently, many women avoided going to police because they expected harassment and lengthy proceedings with no results; however, this is slowly changing in areas where CPFs work to strengthen police-citizen relations. It has helped women feel more confident that people will support them to get the assistance they need to lead healthy, productive lives. In fact, many CPFs have taken concrete measures to motivate women to attend their meetings and resolve problems before they become major issues.

Field Notes: Citizen Account of Domestic Violence

Asia Foundation: What are your upcoming plans for community policing in Rangpur?

Mr. Tanvir: I have a plan for dealing with road accidents. The impact of these accidents is pathetic, both human and financial. It’s not always the drivers’ fault either. Limited public awareness of traffic rules is a contributing factor.

The Community Policing Forums are a good platform for raising awareness of traffic rules and eventually reducing the overall number of accidents.

Asia Foundation: How do you view your role as a police officer in the near future?

Mr. Tanvir: It’s true that citizen perceptions of police are still not very good; however, with communication, police-citizen relations will continue to improve. I think I have a good relationship with the people, but we [the police] need to remain involved in the commu-nity, and not let other work keep us so busy that we don’t give time to citizens.

Asia Foundation: Do you have any suggestions moving forward?

Mr. Tanvir: I suggest that both police and citizens be acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts to promote community policing.

Districts. Partnering with the Bangladesh Police, State Department, USAID and Asia Foundation, ICITAP launched a robust regimen of skill development assistance. It focuses on 4 areas: 1) community policing and human rights, 2) investigative assistance, 3) supervi-sion and leadership, and 4) academy and training assistance. This includes direct one-on-one mentoring, informal group sessions, classroom lectures, and practical exercises. Recognizing that Bangladesh has its own culture and challenges, ICITAP tailors its assis-tance to the local conditions. Rather than try to transform students into American officers, ICITAP and its partners teach skills that will make Bangladesh police better equipped to serve Bangladesh.

In a unique arrangement, ICITAP has partnered with Oregon’s Portland Police Bureau (PPB) as implementers of portions of the program. This highly regarded project has been recognized as “transformational” and an excellent example of interagency coopera-tion. The Asia Foundation and PPB worked together to train 460 Bangladeshi officers in community policing. These officers are now applying the concepts throughout the Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisions. In addition, 30 of them have been selected and accredited as master instructors, and are co-teaching with the Asia Foundation and ICITAP in upcoming community policing courses.

Although ICITAP receives high praise from the Bangladesh Police for its innovative program, the Program Manager credits the Bangladesh Police for the success. “Never before have I encountered a police organization that is more willing or open to accept and immediately apply the lessons we offer. The more we train, the more they want. They make my job exciting!” To date, ICITAP and its partners have trained nearly 4,000 Bangladesh police, exceeding the original expected total of 2,500.

The International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP)

Karl Clark

The International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) was established by the United States Congress in 1986 to provide training to foreign law enforce-ment agencies. It is located in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and funded by multiple agencies including the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It headquar-ters are in Washington, D.C., but its programs are international.

ICITAP’s mission is to work with foreign governments to develop effective, professional, and transparent police that protect human rights, combat corruption, and reduce the threat of transnational crime and terrorism. ICITAP currently has programs in thirty-eight countries with over 350 personnel worldwide.

In July 2010, ICITAP began its community policing program in Bangladesh, primarily focusing on the Rajshahi and Rangpur

Students Attend an ICITAP Course

I have been a member of the Bangladesh Police since 1989, and currently work in Natore. When I joined, I did not receive any training on community policing but instead became familiar with the concept while working with the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Kosovo in 2005. This made me want to learn more and, in November 2011, I had the chance to do so during a formal course organized by the Asia Foundation, USAID, ICITAP, PPB and the Bangladesh Police. During this 3-day course, I not only obtained information on community policing, I also had an opportunity to discuss my experience with instructors and fellow students. I learned that community policing is not only about stopping crime, it’s also about

eliminating the underlying factors that cause it.

Students asked questions like: How can a system imported from the West work in a country with huge socio-economic differences? Why is this course currently offered only to field-level officers, instead of also including policy-level officers? They were told that community policing did not work in America or Britain overnight. There too, since the beginning of the nineteenth century, police faced allegations of corruption and political influence similar to those today in Bangladesh. Reform took a long time and community policing was given top priority in that process.

I constantly try to explain community policing to colleagues who are not as familiar with the concept, especially provisional Sub-Inspectors. I also motivate citizens by developing relations and regular communication with them. Given the opportu-nity to speak with the media, I disseminate the positive impact of community policing. At my police station, I always say to visitors that it is not only the job of the police to prevent crime, but also the job of people to support us through citizen-police partnerships. I believe that the Bangladesh Police will continue to nurture the seeds of community policing sown today into a huge tree. Our responsibility is to give this approach an authentic look and carry it forward.

“…I always say to visitors that it is not only the job of the police to prevent crime, but also the job of people to support us through citizen-police partnerships.”

Instructor and the Student

Inspector Mohammed Mahtab Hossain, Natore Court, Natore

Later, in June of 2012, I attended a 5-day instructor accreditation led by Asia Foundation and the police at the Bangladesh Police Academy. I gained skills to teach others about community policing through classroom exercises and mock practice sessions. Subsequently, in July, I put my instructor abilities to work during a course for 20 police officers (Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors). The biggest achievement was getting students to think more about how to actually apply community policing in the field. We stressed that:

• Preventive policing is more effective than reactionary. • Police-citizen partnerships are a crucial part of crime reduction. • It is possible to reduce people’s fear of crime and gain their confidence to report crimes through increased communication. • Crime Triangle and SARA Problem-Solving models reduce crime opportunities. • Community Policing Forums provide neutral space for interacting with citizens.

For More Information about Community Policing Please Contact:The Asia Foundation, House 5, Road 8, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Tel: +880 (2) 882 6941 - 45 Fax: +880 (2) 882 6134

The development of this newsletter was made possible with the generous support of the American People