DUSHANBE, April 30, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs supported a three-day roundtable discussion which ended on April 29 with the aim of introducing the concept of community policing in Tajikistan and fostering closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local media on ongoing police reform.

The event brought together some 120 participants including heads of Interior Ministry departments and independent units, representatives of Public Councils on Police Reform from five regions and Dushanbe, the Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, police officers and the media.

Also attending were Tajikistan’s Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Ramazon Rahimzoda, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Susan M. Elliott, as well as two experts from the OSCE Center in Bishkek’s Community Security Initiative project and an expert from Northern Ireland.

“Building a strong relationship between police and the people they serve, and giving those people a voice in law enforcement matters creates a transparent environment which contributes to the goals of reform and can only benefit the country,” said U.S. Ambassador Elliott.

Sean McGreevy, Senior Executive Officer at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, said: “A distinguishing feature of the police that serves society is to attract and involve citizens in identifying and solving problems related to crime and safety within their communities.”

Participants discussed the key ideas and best practices in community policing from OSCE participating States, planned activities of the Public Councils in 2015, and enhancing co-operation between the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the media in highlighting the ongoing police reform and activities of Public Councils.