By Nelson Manneh
The Community Policing Unit of The Gambia Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the GIZ Police Program, is currently conducting a week-long engagement in the Upper River Region (URR), Central River Region (CRR), and North Bank Region (NRB) as part of efforts to develop a comprehensive Community Policing Strategy for the GPF.
This initiative is part of the “Police Program Africa – Joint German-EU Support to the Gambia Police Force.”
GIZ is supporting the GPF in creating a new Community Policing Strategy and Implementation Plan for 2025-2029, along with revising and updating the Community Policing training manual.
The overall goal is to strengthen the institutional and human capacities of the GPF, focusing on improving service delivery, crime prevention, and fostering better police-community relations.
The strategy emphasizes the need for strong partnerships between the police, local communities, and relevant stakeholders to collaboratively address problems and gaps. It encourages citizens to take a proactive role in crime prevention, particularly in cases of gender-based violence, and to become active partners in improving the relationship between the police and the public. Key principles guiding the strategy include partnership, empowerment, problem-solving, accountability, and service-oriented policing.
During the team’s visit to URR, Police Regional Commissioner Mballow introduced the team to the Governor of the region, who commended the GPF for its tremendous efforts in reducing crime through community policing.
The Governor of URR assured them of his continued support for the police and urged the Community Policing Unit to focus on border villages, particularly in URR due to their proximity to Senegal.
He further recommended that the Community Policing Unit provide regular training to villagers and establish community policing volunteer teams in local communities to ensure a safer environment for all.
This strategy, according to stakeholders, represents a significant step in creating a stronger partnership between the police and the communities, working together to m ake The Gambia a safer place.
