18 May 2012 – In striving to control criminal activity in Malakal, Upper Nile State, UN police (UNPOL) and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) held a one-day awareness workshop today for UNMISS national staff.

Under the theme "Community policing awareness to build good relation between police and the community", the workshop was also attended by PCRC Chairman Mojwok Laul Kur, State Coordinator Seth Kumi and UNPOL Deputy State Advisor Stephen Krin.

The PCRC is a team of community leaders and police officers from Malakal charged with implementing community policing.

Chairman Kur emphasized the important role national staff could play in helping eradicate crime in the town.

"Community policing has strengthened relations between community leaders and the police, because the police cannot work without involving the community leaders, and nor will the community work without involving the police," he said.

Mr. Kur urged them to support his committee's work by reporting any unusual events to the PCRC. "I call upon you to support and immediately report any criminal activity to our sub-committee in your respective areas."

Some 30 police officers were conducting day and night patrols to mitigate any criminal activities, said PCRC Secretary Maj. Peter Ajak.

As part of the UNMISS mandate, the mission is providing community policing training and supporting the establishment of PCR committees in each South Sudanese state in partnership with UN Development Programme.

State Coordinator Kumi thanked the PCRC for conducting the workshop. "We believe that this workshop is very important to our national staff because they are the eyes of (UNMISS) in the community," said Mr. Kumi.

UNMISS Malakal National Staff Association Chairman Isaac Dut pledged his body's support to the PCRC.