RBP leads collaborative effort to combat crime and drugs in Gelephu

KP Sharma

The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP), in collaboration with the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), RENEW, and The PEMA Secretariat, has launched a crime and drug awareness programme in Gelephu to address crime and drug-related issues in Gelephu and neighbouring areas.

According to the RBP, the initiative aligns with His Majesty’s vision of making Gelephu a drug and crime-free region, contributing to the broader objectives for the Gelephu Special Administrative Region.

The programme, which began a few days ago, focuses on tackling criminal cases, including domestic violence, child and women-related offences, and drug-related crimes, through community engagement and targeted interventions.

The RBP stated that these issues were identified after a thorough evaluation of field reports and police records.

To address these issues, stakeholders are now focusing on the need to improve the services provided while also encouraging public involvement, recognising that addressing these issues is a shared responsibility.

The police stated that the initiative targets various segments of the community, including youth, business owners, civil servants, and retired officials, with interactive sessions designed to raise awareness and foster a collective understanding of the issues at hand.

Through these meetings, the team aims to help residents identify challenges and explore solutions to prevent crime and enhance community resilience.

The police highlighted that the programme’s multi-stakeholder approach is essential, as the crimes being addressed often involve multiple agencies, requiring coordinated efforts.

Instead of covering all gewogs, the initiative focuses on crime hotspot areas, where higher population density and increased crime rates are more prevalent. This targeted approach aims to address specific local needs and reduce crime more effectively.

Having already completed sessions in Sarpang, the team is now engaging with residents in Gelephu.

The team believes that such collaborative effort will lead to long-term solutions for crime reduction and contribute to enhancing the region’s safety.