OSCE Skopje Mission helps bring police and citizens closer
(OSCE)Police officers Biljana Stankovska and Cvetanka Zatovska display diplomas awarded for completing an OSCE training course in community policing in Ohrid, 18 January 2004. (OSCE) Photo details
SKOPJE, 30 May 2004 - Thousands of people attended today's Police Open Day, organized by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Interior, which was designed to bring members of the police force and local citizens closer together.
The Open Day at Veles City stadium is part of an outreach project aimed at young people and children, as well as their parents. The Mission first introduced the community policing concept two years ago and has worked hard to build its capacity.
"We are glad to see an increase in local initiatives aiming to elevate co-operation between the police and citizens," said Ambassador Carlos Pais, Head of the OSCE Mission.
He pointed out that the Veles Citizens Advisory Group, one of 54 such local citizens-police forums brought together by the OSCE Mission, initiated the Police Open Day.
"Community policing is being increasingly applied, and there will soon be more similar events taking place across the country," added the Ambassador.
"There is not enough communication between police and citizens," said Ms. Slavica Kucukeva, a local TV journalist. "Children and many of their parents will become closer friends with the police."
The event was supported by the Embassy of The Netherlands.
The Open Day at Veles City stadium is part of an outreach project aimed at young people and children, as well as their parents. The Mission first introduced the community policing concept two years ago and has worked hard to build its capacity.
"We are glad to see an increase in local initiatives aiming to elevate co-operation between the police and citizens," said Ambassador Carlos Pais, Head of the OSCE Mission.
He pointed out that the Veles Citizens Advisory Group, one of 54 such local citizens-police forums brought together by the OSCE Mission, initiated the Police Open Day.
"Community policing is being increasingly applied, and there will soon be more similar events taking place across the country," added the Ambassador.
"There is not enough communication between police and citizens," said Ms. Slavica Kucukeva, a local TV journalist. "Children and many of their parents will become closer friends with the police."
The event was supported by the Embassy of The Netherlands.