Description
At the time of ever-increasing social diversity and its increasing social problems, the Roma - especially those living in conditions of socially excluded localities - belong to the people most at risk of poverty and (organized) crime committed both within the community and from the external environment. Czech Police solves - in cooperation with other municipal, governmental and NGOs growing range of problems. Working with the Roma community is specific in many ways and requires particular in the field of import rights and building mutual trust, specific approaches and solutions. The main objective of the project is to introduce a police specialists mechanism to work with the Roma minority in socially excluded localities. The result of the functioning of police specialists should be professional police approach to the Roma minority. The benefit will be the effectiveness of the police units operations working with the Roma minority in socially excluded localities, ensuring mutual exchange of information between organizational units of the Police of the Czech Republic.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was to train police experts in Roma minority policing in socially excluded locations and their introduction to service in the field, including follow-up training in minority policing for minority liaison officers and follow-up training of selected police managers (senior police officers). Project also aimed at improved relationship between the Czech Police and the Roma community, particularly at the locations suffering from increased social tensions and conflicts. The key element of the project was a sociological research paper mapping the current needs in the context of policing socially excluded locations. The research resulted in a number of follow up activities, primarily targeting improvement and deepening of international contacts as well as gathering experience, methods and procedures used by foreign counterparts responsible for Roma policing. The police experts trained under the umbrella of the project received high quality materials to streamline their everyday performance of duties. As a result of the project, 40 police experts were trained in Roma minority policing, 15 minority liaison officers introduced into excluded locations, 10 high ranking police officers (senior managers) trained in conceptual management of Roma minority policing at particular regional police headquarters and the Police Presidium, analytical research paper was prepared, 10 training events were conducted and 8 study trips abroad were performed. Foreign experience reduced incidence of crime at socially excluded locations and helped to minimize the number of inter-ethnic conflicts between the Roma community and the majority population in the Czech Republic.
Summary of bilateral results