During the webinar Mykhailo Kamenev, a lawyer, an expert of the Association of Ukrainian Human Rights Monitors, told about the communication and forms of cooperation between united territorial community residents and the police for providing security.

Community policing and what it is NOT:

This format of police work is an attempt of Ukrainian law enforcement officers to introduce an organizational culture and service function following the example of foreign countries. It is well-funded now, so that’s important to understand how to use such a tool. This is NOT about:

● public relations,

● performing inappropriate functions (for example, painting the fence),

● meetings in the reporting format,

● lectures in schools and kindergartens.

This is about a real cooperation, when the policemen together with the community look for the ways of solving problems to establish a safe environment in the area.

“Without the awareness, the whole community policing turns into a theater of public relations,” quoted the speaker one of the American articles on the subject.

The activities of police commissions

This format is an attempt to involve the community in personnel matters of police.

Functions:

  • selection (competition) for people, who are first-time employed (mandatory),
  • promotion (optional).

Currently, there is a problem of the lack of people in such commissions. To become a part of the commission and have an opportunity to influence the staff in your area, you should check for announcements on the website of the territorial police department and apply for this job. Note: this activity is unpaid.

Bringing the police officers to the disciplinary account

It happens with the help of disciplinary commissions, and their work is regulated by the following rules:

Article 15. Disciplinary commissions 1. Official investigations into police misconduct are carried out by the disciplinary commissions. …

3. Disciplinary commissions may also include representatives of the public, who have an impeccable reputation, high professional and moral qualities, and enjoy (moral) authority in the society.

Local budget programs

These programs are based on the example of “Safe city” and “Facilitating the work of the law enforcement agencies on the territory …”. Such programs can be in regions, districts, cities, towns and villages. The police are very interested in this, but for such a program the residents may have a requirement for the police. It is critically important to monitor the effectiveness (within reason) and spending money.

How can the effectiveness of the local police be assessed? Mykhailo noted that the main criterion is the public trust to the law enforcement officers. The assessment of the level of public confidence in the police is carried out by the independent sociological agencies in accordance with the procedure defined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Video surveillance systems in public places

These cameras can be installed in any public place. It is an effective tool for crime control and detection. A lot of cameras have analytics functions (recognition of vehicle registration plates or faces).

Problems that are caused by using the cameras:

  • No legal grounds
  • Insecurity of the systems
  • Failure to provide information on the requests
  • The problem of interaction between authorities
  • Violation of the right to privacy
  • Poor integration and “zoo” of cameras and software
  • Desire for commercialization

How can the community legally fire a police chief?

The community has a real opportunity to fire a police chief (try to google). The local council must adopt a resolution of mistrust to the police chief. This process is regulated by Article 87 of the Law of Ukraine «On National Police».

The reporting on policing and other forms of public control

The reporting of the police officers is also determined by the law. Community residents should monitor these reports and may ask any questions about the report (if they arise) at the police meetings with the community.

About the neighborhood watch

This kind of work is entrusted only to the residents of the community and does not include the active involvement of the police, however, is in coordination with The National Police of Ukraine. In fact, the members of the neighborhood watch guards have the same rights as every other citizen of Ukraine.

Link to the talk with Mykhailo: https://youtu.be/pZpswxka0Dw

About the project. The webinars about the political reforms are held within the framework of the project “Give the authority a new course”, which is supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development.

Note. The mission of the “Active Community” is to achieve prosperity through the democratic development of Ukrainian communities. The goal for 2025 is to activate and involve at least 1% of citizens in decision-making and promotion of reforms in Ukraine on a systemic basis for the well-being of Ukrainian communities. The initiative was created through the activities of the “Institute Respublica”. We are working to increase the civil activity of citizens.