To raise public awareness and inform citizens about how the police function and what contributions they are making for the nation and society, then-Inspector General of Police Sarbendra Khanal introduced a new concept called Community-Police Partnership on Kartik 11, 2075 BS (October 28, 2018).

In line with the concept of community policing, the aim was to foster effective coordination and cooperation between local governments and local police units. This partnership was envisioned to drive local development, service delivery, and public security forward in an integrated manner.

Since its introduction, various programs have affirmed that this concept—established through agreements between Nepal Police and local governments to enhance community safety via joint mechanisms—is not only practical but highly impactful.

Although it’s only been around 5 years and 8 months, the initiative has already achieved remarkable success in a short span.

Among all programs implemented by the Nepal Police, the Community-Police Partnership stands out as the most comprehensive and effective to date.

Widespread Reach and Effectiveness

So far, this program has reached:

  • Thousands of schools

  • All 753 local levels

  • Thousands of wards

  • Different segments of society, including various ethnic, cultural, and professional groups

Previously, the police had run initiatives under the name “Community Police”, but the new campaign launched under the “Community-Police Partnership” banner has spread nationwide in record time with a more distinct and effective model.

This initiative has shown its effectiveness in reducing crime by sitting with communities and combating social evils and irregularities.

Institutional Coordination

Nepal Police began implementing this initiative by signing an MoU with Tribhuvan University, enabling structured rollout and program execution across the country.

Various stakeholders—including local governments, Nepal Police, social organizations, schools, and respected community figures—have actively participated in this partnership.

According to the Nepal Police Headquarters, thousands of safety committees have been established at the municipality, ward, neighborhood, and school levels. These committees assist police in maintaining public safety and conducting criminal investigations.

The Need for Modern Tech Integration

One of the challenges, however, is the lack of integration between local installations like siren systems or CCTV surveillance and national emergency systems (e.g., police hotline 100 or GIS-based mapping). Without such integration, efforts remain fragmented and less effective.

The Nepal Police believe the program has played a major role in building public trust and operational excellence.

Awareness and Youth Engagement

The Community Service Center and Community Police Service Center in Ichangu Narayan, Nagarjun, have been running orientation programs in many schools involving principals and staff.

The training sessions target:

  • Reducing social evils

  • Combating substance abuse

  • Promoting awareness at the school and community levels

Even on cyber safety, the police have launched awareness campaigns against:

  • Online bullying

  • Identity-based humiliation

  • Posting disrespectful content (e.g., morphing human faces with animals)

Police teams have been visiting schools for interactive sessions on cyber safety and drug awareness, making use of practical, field-based training under the school-police communication program.

Structural Expansion

More than 200 Community Police Service Centers and 100+ local community police branches have been set up across the country to manage administrative and community-focused tasks.

However, due to missing foundational elements in some areas, the expected success of the community police center model has not yet been fully realized.

Recognizing that local people are the key to community safety, the program aims to reach every household with information and engagement on public safety.

Role of Government Levels

To deliver fast, efficient, and accessible services to the public, the government has distributed responsibilities among:

  • Federal

  • Provincial

  • Local levels

This coordination aims to streamline services and create synergy in law enforcement.

Gaps in Nationwide Coordination

Despite the widespread reach, there remains no unified national-level coordination mechanism between Nepal Police and local governments. This lack of centralized collaboration has led to confusion and inefficiencies in day-to-day service delivery.

Though surveillance tools like CCTV cameras have been installed at key and sensitive locations, there has been no unified monitoring system, making it difficult for police or the community to react promptly when incidents occur.

Unless local communities are motivated to install safety equipment and connect it to systems like emergency number 100 and GIS-based mapping, any efforts will remain disorganized and ineffective.

Local Action and Continued Commitment

The Nagarjun Community Service Center frequently holds patrols, interactive meetings, and public engagements with local representatives, community members, groups, and institutions.

It also maintains records of individuals with suspicious or criminal behavior and informs law enforcement units accordingly.

Based on 15 years of experience and numerous public awareness programs, the center continues to support the Community-Police Partnership initiative wholeheartedly.

Author: Advisor, Community Service and Community Police Service Center, Ichangu Narayan, Nagarjun,  Kathmandu.