Baidoa, Somalia- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police unit together with the Somali Police Force launched a community-policing program in Baidoa on Friday, 11 December 2015, aimed at promoting community initiatives to fight crime.

The Somali Police Force and AMISOM Police component held a town hall meeting attended by women groups, youth, members of the business community and traditional elders among others.

The meeting discussed effective ways of information sharing and coordination between the residents and the Police, in efforts to weed out criminals from their midst.

The Baidoa Police Station Commander Mukhtar Ahmed Ibrahim welcomed the community policing initiative and commended the partnership between AMISOM Police and Somali Police Force.

"We thank AMISOM Police for bringing the community policing initiative to Baidoa. This will enhance the partnership between the community and the police so that we work closely together. Working with the police is in everyone’s interest. We all want a safe environment to raise and educate our children and this can only happen when we work together,” Commander Mukhtar said.

The residents of Baidoa embraced the program and urged AMISOM to extend it to other areas of the region.

"If each one of us commits to work with the police, we will eliminate insecurity and leave behind a safe and prosperous region and country to our children and their children’s children. The community policing program is all about building partnership with communities in order to prevent crimes, reporting it when it occurs and enhancing security,” said Abdirashid Abdullahi, Governor of the Bay region.

AMISOM Public Information Officer Edwin Mugera thanked Somali Police Force for embracing the community partnership program and the strong working relations with AMISOM.

"We thank the Somali Police and the community for the close working relationship. This whole exercise is centered on re-assessing who is responsible for public safety and this will re-define the roles and relationships between the police and the public. Therefore, there should be shared ownership, decision making and accountability with sustained commitment to fight crime in the society,” PIO Mugera said.

The initiative is geared towards building understanding and trust between the Police and the community, aimed facilitating fast response to crime as well as enabling the Police to address concerns of the community.

Under the program, community partnerships and neighborhood watch initiatives will be introduced and are expected to help in deterring crime.

AMISOM Police also donated office equipment for the establishment of a Gender Desk in Baidoa. The office materials were handed over to the Baidoa Police Station Commander Mukhtar Ahmed Ibrahim.