Kathmandu, December 1

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has issued a circular to all municipalities and rural municipalities, directing them to implement the community-police partnership programme in their respective areas to prevent and control crimes, and enhance overall community security.

This programme aims to develop a broader national partnership by forming committees at the district, local, ward, neighbourhood and school levels for community security. The committee at the local level comprises police, municipality and rural municipality, government agencies, community police service centres, non-political community and social organisations, associations and organisations working for women, children and youth, schools up to secondary level, educational institutions and prominent persons of society, according to the concept note of community-police partnership programme released by the MoFAGA.

In the case of metropolitan cities, the concerned provincial police and metropolis enter into the agreement, while the concerned district police office and local level sign the deal for the partnership programme in sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural municipalities. The function, duties and responsibilities of the committees include operation, coordination and monitoring of community-police partnership programme; holding monthly meeting; organising at least two district-wise awareness programmes; selection and mobilisation of volunteers; installation of CCTVs, security sirens, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in sensitive places; and mobilisation and management of integrated volunteers in accidents and disasters, among others.

“The partnership programme envisages record-keeping system of persons living at neighbourhood and community levels to prevent crimes and arrest of absconding crime suspects,” the concept note says. This programme also focuses on the control of exploitation of natural resources, basic security, installation and expansion of security equipment, control of crime against women and children, campaign against social anomalies like child marriage and dowry, trafficking in persons, integrated mobile camps (health and administrative), road safety, prohibition on narcotic drugs, control of alcohol consumption, disaster management, cyber security and environment protection.

The concept paper said each district, local level, ward, neighbourhood and school committee would be honoured with Community-Police Partnership Excellence Award every year on the basis of their performance. Initiative will also be taken to

integrate the ministries, government agencies, partner organisations, schools and banks and financial institutions into the programme for the arrangement of necessary resources, it says.