According to the Director of the Hungarian National Bureau of Investigation, background and base of the project is mainly the criminality situation (especially regarding smaller property offences) in some rural and rather poor areas. This can lead to overreaction of victims against certain minorities who are suspected of being the source of potential actors. That’s why the regions chosen for community police (CP) pilot projects are underprivileged rural areas. At the beginning, the project will focus on their respective principal towns, namely Miskolic, Nyiregyhaza, Szeged and Zalaegerszeg; two of them in focus areas under the Swiss Contribution.

The goal is to increase the sense of security of the citizens and the trust between population and police. In order to reach this goal, proactive and problem-oriented working methods are introduced and different forms of security oriented cooperation between police and civil society are developed. Additionally, the necessary legal basis for anchoring of the community police concept and working methods in the whole country are prepared.

Police personnel / management, involved civil society (like NGOs, interest groups), citizens.

Under supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Interior, community police pilot projects are carried out in the cities Miskolc, Nyiregyhaza, Szeged and Zalaegerszeg. Chosen police officers will be trained in new, proactive and problem-oriented working methods before applying them in practice. Analysis and evaluation of the pilot experiences shall furthermore create the basis for a later country-wide implementation.

Résultats obtenus:  

• Manual on the introduction of CP elaborated, training materials developped and training of  CP-trainers 
• Trainings of 886 CPO (Community Police Officers)
• Pilot system rolled out and completed in 4 cities
• 4 Study trips to Switzerland of CP and local political leaders
• Public feedback survey carried out 

Phase 1 01.06.2012 - 30.11.2015   (Completed)