2 December 2020—A new Lologo Police Station opened on Wednesday to improve policing services in the Juba suburb of Rajaf Payam. The Deputy Inspector General of South Sudan National Police Service, the Central Equatoria State Police Commissioner, Acting Chief Executive of Juba City Council, and representatives from UNDP and JICA inaugurated the facility designed to serve families and the community.

“A police station cannot stand alone without the support of the public, and working together with civilian population we can combat and eradicate crime,” said Deputy Inspector General of SSNPS Lt. General James Piu Yak Yiel, adding, “There is no work of the police that can be done in isolation without involvement of the community, and we are appealing to police personnel to garner respect of the community first so that cooperation is given in return.”

The Lologo Police Station is located in Lologo II near Prisons Academy, and neighbors a growing market. The new facility is designed to provide 24-hour police support to the community, an aspiration the Deputy Inspector General emphasized as essential. The station consists of an office block complete with investigation rooms, temporary holding cells, and ICT equipment; a solar-powered bore hole; and washrooms.

“The establishment of this police station will give police an opportunity to provide services to the residents of this area and achieve our primary motive to provide security to civilians,” said General Jamal Abbas, Central Equatoria State Police Commissioner.

Gaps in policing services continue to affect individuals, their families and communities and equally inhibit social and economic development, especially those in Rajaf Payam. Previously, residents were required to travel to Gumbo area to report a growing number of crimes and access police support. Responsive policing services are key to meaningful implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), in order to create lasting peace and social stability for South Sudanese.

“We hope this facility wll contribute to more effective work of the police to serve the community here. Our support can be taken as a token of partnership and friendship from the people of Japan, who are expecting peace, security and the rule of law to be secured in this facility,” said JICA Chief Representative Sagara Fuyuki.

UNDP South Sudan’s Access to Justice, Security and Human Rights Strengthening project provided support to the police station to bridge the gap between the police and the civilian community.  

“UNDP looks forward to continued collaboration and growing our collective efforts to build a police service that is professional, competent and a friend of all South Sudanese. People can only follow their aspirations and live their dreams if their security is assured. Launching this police station during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is symbolic of our support to the police to increase responsiveness to GBV crimes. We want this station to be open to every citizen, female, male, adults and children, so they feel safe to walk in to report a crime and receive support,” said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Christy Ahenkora.

In addition to equipping the police station, inclusive Police Community Relations Committees across different states bring together a cross-section of community members, including traditional leaders, local justice actors and the police, to become partners in preventing and responding to crime. UNDP’s support to SSNPS also includes establishing Emergency Call Centres in Juba and Wau, and 23 Special Protection Units which provide life-saving services to combat GBV and other sensitive crimes.

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For further information, please contact: Kymberly Bays, Communications Specialist, kymberly.bays@undp.org, +211 920 580 239