PH International has held the closing conference of the 5-year program "Adjara Community Policing Initiative“(ACPI). The program was funded by the US Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The closing conference was opened by Renee Berrian, Head of the Programs at PH International USA headquarters. She has highlighted PH International's experience in implementing community policing programs in various countries and mentioned ACPI as one of the first pilot programs of this kind in Georgia. Program participants were greeted and thanked by Rebeca Huntr - the director of INL Georgia office; Mike Turner - Senior Police Advisor of INL Georgia Office, Ekaterine Machavariani - Director of the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia; Konstantine Ananiashvili - Director of the Police Department of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia; Maia Khajishvili - Minister of Education, Culture and Sports of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.
Tinatin Ebanoidze, ACPI Program Manager, summed up the results of the 5 years work and thanked participants, partners and the chiefs of the police departments from Khulo, Shuakhevi, Qeda, Khelvachauri and Kobuleti for their contribution to the project successful implantation. Program participant police officers and teachers talked about their personal experiences, especially how the program supported their policing or pedagogical work, how it changed the attitudes of youth and contributed to increased safety and well-being of young people.
"The program has facilitated the discovery of new ways of communication between the police and the youth, the police and community. It has encouraged the establishment of direct communication and partnership, changing negative stereotypes about the police into positive one resulting in the development and strengthening of cooperation between police and community members. With joint resources from different actors, police has managed to create a safe and healthy environment for youth in the community. ”- Zaza Kamadadze, Program Participant police officer, Police Department of Shuakhevi Division.
The online conference was closed by Berdia Natsvlishvili, Director of PH International Georgia's Office, who stressed the importance of involving partners in the successful implementation of the program and thanked for their continued support. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to police officers, teachers and facilitators participating in the program.
The goal of the five-year program was to prevent juvenile crime and improve cooperation between local communities and law enforcement agencies through initiating community policing principles. The program covered 32 communities of all five municipalities of Adjara region: Khulo, Shuakhevi, Keda, Khelvachauri, Kobuleti.
Georgia | 
