Police officers have undergone a one-day training on community policing that is aimed at strengthening the rule of law.

The training was organised by the Gambia Police Force in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police Attaché at the ministry of Interior, Lamin Banda, told the delegates that the police still faces challenges in its bid to uphold the law.

“Despite the peaceful changes of the government and the increase international support, the legacy of the former administration poses challenges to a peaceful transition toward democratic governance and rule of law in the Gambia,”
DCP Banda said.

He said a nationwide study research undertaken by his ministry with the support of the West African Network for Peacebuilding and the United Nations Development Programme last year found that “there is a mistrust between members of the community and men in uniform.”

He said participation of citizens and civil society organisations is crucial in sustaining peace and stability in the country, adding that there is a need to focus on proactive policing.

DCP Banda urged African countries and regional organisations including African Union and Ecowas “to invest more in prevention than investing resources in fire brigade policing.

“This realisation led to the commitment by the government of the Gambia through ministry of Interior charged with internal security, the desire to establish and support existing structures for conflict prevention.”

Nessie Golakai Gould, UNDP deputy resident representative, said her organisation in partnership with UNICEF initiated a rule of law programme in the country in 2017 to support the security sector reform and the transitional justice programme.

“During the previous administration Gambia police force suffered reputational harm due to the engagement of the security sector in allegations of gross human rights violations against the Gambian people as a result there was loss of public confidence and trust in the police force and its personnel,” she said

Ms Gould added that “the Gambia Police Force has begun its rehabilitation in order to build public trust, the rule of law project enable us to provide sector wide support, increasing the resilience of rule of law institutions and increasing access to justice for citizens”.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba