STRENGTHENING COOPERATION ON CRIME PREVENTION IN JALAL ABAD CITY

Local authorities of Jalalabad City conducted an official launch of the Crime Prevention Action Plan. It is a strategic document, which reflects key crime risk factors and includes main areas of work on crime prevention in the city of Jalalabad for 2015-2017. Crime Prevention Plan was developed with active involvement of the representatives from local government, women and youth committees, police, aldermen and local residents, and approved by the local parliament on September 3, 2015.

Mr. Salaidin Avazov, the mayor of the Jalalabad city noted that "effective crime prevention can promote community safety and reduce social costs that result from crime", he mentioned that "a coordination council on crime prevention under the Mayor's Office will ensure concerted actions of key stakeholders and strengthen capacity of state bodies to engage with the public to prevent crime and fear of crime". Local police supported the initiative, stating that crime prevention is also a major objective of the Police Reform Measures, adopted by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in April 2013, and only joint efforts can strengthen the effectiveness of interventions in reducing and controlling crime and fear of crime.

Crime Prevention Action Plan of Jalalabad is an example of how municipalities can strengthen coordination between the police, other state bodies and communities to improve public security and safety and prevent crime. UNODC, in tandem with the Jalalabad Mayor's Office, police and public foundation "For Tolerance International" helped to realize this initiative with generous support provided by the U.S. International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL).

Ms. Sheila Gwaltney, the U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic states that "perhaps crime prevention has traditionally been thought of as a responsibility of the police, role of community based organizations such as local crime prevention centres, civic leaders and concerned citizens cannot be underestimated".

From 2013 UNODC provided technical assistance to strengthen capacity of key stakeholders in the Kyrgyz Republic to develop and implement effective crime prevention programmes aimed at prevention of crime and victimization as well as promotion of community safety.