“We are unable to move around when it rains, but it’s important for us to be mobile in any weather because our job is to make sure communities are safe,” reveals Michael Obusuk Daniel, Chair of the Police Community Relations Committee in Moruwari, a residential area located within Torit, Eastern Equatoria.

The Police Community Relations Committee is a team of community leaders who work with local police to prevent crime by reporting any problems in the community. 

Cogniscent of the hardships faced by them, United Nations Police (UNPOL) officers serving with UNMISS recently handed over raincoats to members of the Committee to mitigate the impact of the rainy season and enable them to continue their duties despite the inclement weather.

“If we aren’t out and about, reporting and recording crimes in the community becomes challenging,” adds Mr Daniel. “This hand over by UNPOL, therefore, is necessary and timely.”

Criminal activities in residential areas of Torit town needs more deterrence than is within the capacity of local police. Therefore, using civilian community members to help preserve law and order and ensure accurate, timely reports of criminality is essential.

“As South Sudan National Police, we depend on the support of the community to identify crimes,” states Adolfo Fabiano Oswaha, a community policing officer. “Thanks to training provided by UNPOL officers, we have ensured that many responsible and committed community members have been trained in community policing.”

 “Community policing is essentially volunteerism for the greater good of society,” states Lieutenant Mohamed Badr, Police Adviser, UNMISS. “We handed over these waterproof jackets because we want to keep community members motivated and energized to ensure the safety and security of civilians,” said Lieutenant Mohamed Ibrahim Badr,  a Police Adviser.

The hand over included rain jackets, gumboots, torches and mobile phones. The items will be distributed by the South Sudan to individual members of the community watch groups in all residential areas in Torit Municipal Council and other areas with functional community policing teams.