Acting Police Commissioner in Tonj: “I encourage us to adopt UN standards”

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Law enforcement agents in Tonj have been trained by UNMISS on a number of relevant topics, including human rights.

27 Feb 2019

Acting Police Commissioner in Tonj: “I encourage us to adopt UN standards”

Manyang Mayom

More than 60 police officers and other law enforcement agents in Tonj have participated in a two-day training on investigative skills, gender-based violence, human rights, community policing and proper rule of law.

The goal of the workshop, led by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, was to enhance effective cooperation, trust and harmony between local authorities and civilians.

“I encourage our investigators to adopt UN standards by observing all international laws when undertaking their duties,” said Coronel Joseph May, the acting Police Commissioner in Tonj, adding that more training would be welcome.

Last year’s shutdown of the best-functioning mobile phone network in the area has dealt a severe blow to crime prevention and control.

“Sometimes we still manage to receive reports immediately, but now we are getting most information very late because there are areas without network coverage, like Luac-Jang and Tonj North,” lamented Zechariah Hassan, head of the local police administration.

The capacity building comes particularly handy at this time, as the Tonj police department reports a recent spike in crimes with child and female perpetrators. Children under the age of 15 are mostly detained because of minor crimes, such as petty thefts, whereas most women being arrested face charges of adultery, according to Captain Maria Agook Mapuol, officer-in-charge of the special unit of the Tonj police corps.