Project Summary:

The reform of Police became one of the major goals of the Moldovan Government which pursues to increase the efficiency of Police and the level of the population`s trust in Police. The Police Development Strategy 2016-2020 aims at establishing a Police force serving the interests of citizens and community. This document sets the reform direction the Police should follow during the upcoming years with a focus on modernization of Police operation, increasing efficiency, accountability and transparency, strengthening the crime response capacities and mainstreaming the respect for human rights in Police activity.

Thus, overall objective of the project is to assist the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the General Police Inspectorate (GPI) in developing an accountable, efficient, transparent and professional police force, alligned to the best international practices. The project seeks to further strengthen the institutional and professional capacities of MIA and GPI units, helping them fulfil the internal modernization efforts and strategic objectives in line with international best practices including mainstreaming and promotion of human rights and gender responsiveness.

Objectives:

• Strengthening the Police capacities in crime scene management, evidence collection and primary crime response;
• Supporting the implementation of community policing concept in the Republic of Moldova;
• Strengthening capacities of the General Police Inspectorate and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to comprehensively implement the police reform agenda.

Expected results:

• Improved technical capacities of forensic experts and crime scene investigators from 15 police units to identify, document, secure, collect and examine evidence;
• Forensic laboratories of Police are accredited and comply with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 standard;
• Two pilot police stations remodeled and operational in line with the community policing principles;
• Police stakeholders better informed about and understand the community policing philosophy;
• Improved capacities (knowledge, skills and tools) of GPI and MIA to implement the Police reform;
• Strengthened Police crime response and tactical capacities.

Accomplishments:

• 15 police units (3 regional departments of the Police Forensic Centre and 12 district Police Inspectorates) provided with fully equipped crime scene vehicles/mobile labs, ICT devices, up-to-date investigative equipment, and modern crime scene kits and tools for a prompt crime response, better crime scene management, reduced investigation time and setting higher standards of delivered services;
• Improved capacities of Police Forensic Centre for conducting digital forensic investigations through upgraded specialized software, tools, and knowledge;
• Police Forensic Centre is accredited in line with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard, proving compliance with standard’s requirements in six areas of forensic expertise: ballistics, impressions, fingerprints, handwriting, forensic document examination and digital forensics;
• Two multipurpose rooms at the Forensic Center`s headquarter with a total capacity of up to 160 persons upgraded to display an inviting environment with functionalities for various events, including but not limiting to training activities, conferences, project launches, press conferences, internal and external meetings at different levels, etc;
• Three Police subdivisions (Fulger Squad of Police, National Patrolling Inspectorate and Police Forensic Centre) improved the secure communication capacities being provided with 56 (52 portable and 4 mobile) sets of TETRA radio stations;
• Two pilot police stations from Chisinau and Singerei, redesigned and operationalized in line with the community policing principles, fostering a better police-community engagement for nearly 50,000 people;
• Assessment report on community-based policing in Moldova produced and shared with relevant national stakeholders, serving as a starting point for the development of the Community Policing Concept in Moldova;
• 20 police staff members (including management and operational staff) benefited from introductory training on community policing principles and activity;
• 28 police officers (8 women, 20 men) from four regions (Balti, Cahul, Cantemir and Leova) were trained in line with International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) course syllabus on police bike patrolling and equipped to become first responders to public order threats and enhance the security of women and men in the districts they serve;
• Six consultants engaged to develop capacities and provide strategic advice and assistance to the Police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Joint Law Enforcement Training Centre in priority areas: communication, forensics, community policing, modernization of police human resources system, occupational standards, institutional development and reorganization;
• A new concept on recruitment and evaluation of internal affairs staff developed with Project’s support and endorsed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• 14 law enforcement professionals (3 women, 11 men) from the Joint Law Enforcement Training Centre, Ministry of Internal Affairs and General Police Inspectorate trained and qualified as trainers by the Romanian National Qualifications Authority;  
• Two conference rooms within the General Police Inspectorate premises upgraded and endowed with furniture and IT/multimedia equipment, fostering an improved police-public interaction;
• Police Strategy Coordination Unit equipped and operationalized for an efficient police reform coordination, implementation, monitoring and reporting;
• Joint Law Enforcement Training Centre enabled to put the basis for the next generation of police sub-officers by providing support in the conceptualization of the modernized police training programme, building the trainers’ adult teaching skills, and delivering ICT devices, tactical gear and specialized equipment which help the Police trainees to acquire the required knowledge, skills and competencies;  
• Police’s capabilities for crime response and operations strengthened by modernizing the first response car fleet (27 first response vehicles delivered) and increasing protective and tactical capacities of Police Fulger Brigade (17 ballistic shields provided);
• Assessment on the opportunity of body camera (video recorder) use by the Moldovan Police forces conducted and shared with Police for further consideration and action.