Support to the Albanian Ministry of Interior (MOI)/Albanian State Police (ASP) on Community Policing

This 3,5 year Sida-financed project aimed at introducing the concept of Community Policing in Albania. The project worked with a variety of stakeholders and included primarily the Albanian State Police (ASP – the main programme counterpart), Local Governments, Civil Society Organizations, media, etc. throughout the country, by focusing in three content areas:

1. Performance Management: Major steps were taken to increase the capacities of the ASP on performance management through trainings, study visit and internal and external surveys and piloting the LSMS (Local Safety Measurement Survey) concept. The project realised three surveys (2013, 2014 and 2015) covering residents of 30 pilot areas in 7 regions of the country. This resulted in a “map of crime” according to citizen’s perception, which served as important input into policing plans and as a useful tool for strategy makers.
2. Partnerships (specifically between youth and police): With the aim to build trust between the ASP and Albanian youth, the project supported activities that increased the interaction and enhanced the relationship between police and youth across the country. Regional Committees for partnership with the police were set up to liaise with the public. 
3. Tackling Domestic Violence: The project increased knowledge amongst practitioners tackling domestic violence and enhanced the dialogue between CSOs and police. It also raised the awareness among the general public, the Albanian Ministry of Interior and State Police on roles and responsibilities when addressing domestic violence, adopted and streamlined reporting mechanism and enabled better decisions to tackle domestic violence. The project carried out a study on the Domestic Violence reporting system, which explored the situation within ASP. It identified the needs for improved cooperation with other members of the Referral Mechanism. Another main contribution in the field of Domestic Violence was the development and country-wide training on the Practitioner’s Manual on Tackling Domestic Violence. The Manual provided the ASP and other stakeholders with a general guideline on the fight against and handling of Domestic Violence and has significantly increased the knowledge and collaboration among practitioners. 

Project results:

• A widely acclaimed Small Grant Scheme provided 74 small grants (up to 5 000€) during 5 calls for proposals involving not only NGOs and other organised advocacy groups but also individuals and police officers. Procedures were transparent, flexible and well communicated to potential applicants. The project provided support and coaching for the grantees throughout the process. Minority groups, such as the Roma and LGBT, were much active in the project's implementation.
• Seven Police Reception Halls were constructed/renovated, by a successful piloting of Public-Private-Partnership concept. The government, the business community and the project signed MoUs for sharing responsibilities, and the business community did the construction work at cost. The RH construction interventions were accompanied by streamlining RH business processes and client service training of RH staff, which altogether had a considerable impact on the service delivery.
• Support to the implementation of a Police Case Management System. The project supported the development of the Operational Room Module, by installing a Police Case Management System. The equipment was procured and delivered to the ASP’s IT Department. The project agreed to cover the cost of the training equipment (laptops, projectors and WiFi hotspots) to be used by mobile training teams.
• Introduction of the Web Constable concept. In cooperation with Tirana RPD and Commissariat Nr. 1 and 2, as a compliment to the Reception Hall project, the project piloted the concept of Web Constable (Face-book page). During 2014-2015, SACP identified 2 policewomen, capable of using social network, trained and equipped them with laptops and internet service.
• Workshops on improving the management of Human Resource capacity, with participation of 79 heads of HR sectors at ASP HQ and RPDs were carried out.
• Internal Staff Motivation Survey. Following a request by ASP, the project elaborated a Staff Satisfaction Study on the police officers' working conditions.
• Two surveys to measure the public's satisfaction of police services were conducted.
• Support for the PR and media Unit of the MoI and ASP. For a period of 6 months, upon the request of the MoI, the project supported capacity building of public relations of MoI and ASP (5 personnel). Also, the project provided PR equipment. 
• Supporting the ASP on drafting the three year police strategy. In order to improve the draft of the 3-year ASP strategy, the project facilitated workshops and provided expertise in order to assist drafting the strategy and designing the regulation section dedicated to community policing, 
• Drafting the Community Policing Manual. The project drafted a Community Policing Manual, a theoretical and practical material to assist senior and mid-level managers of the ASP. 1000 copies were produced and delivered.
• The project drafted the Law on Antisocial Behaviour and assisted in the compilation of the new ASP regulation. The draft Law on Antisocial Behaviour was seen by the local police as very important for providing capacities to settle common local disputes.
• Several trainings were carried out in collaboration with the Academy for Public Safety and Security, which provided training facilities and capacities. The Manual on Community Policing produced by SACP is currently part of the Academy’s curricula.
• Production and dissemination of Awareness Material:  Threats of drugs (10,000 flyers and a video spot); prevention of violence in schools (10,000 flyers and a video spot); anti-trafficking of human beings (22,000 flyers and a spot); cyber security (16,000 flyers+ spot); road safety (12,000 flyer for teenagers and 12,000 for children and a spot); 15,000 leaflets for the web constable. 
• Study visits. Three study visits for ASP delegations were organised to Sweden with a view to learn about Swedish practices of Community Policing, tackling Domestic Violence, building partnerships with the local government, voluntarism, increasing trust and confidence and the ongoing Swedish police reform.