The Department also started participating in the Kosovo Community Policing Steering Group which is overseeing the implementation of the new phase of community policing at four pilot sites in Kosovo, assessing and modifying the process where necessary. The Department continued to closely monitor and support the implementation of the new community policing methodology which was launched by the Kp initially in the four pilot regions and, after a three-month pilot phase, spread throughout Kosovo. The Department provided its support to the Kp in order to ensure that the new model of policing contains a clear and workable strategy, supported by a sustainable implementation plan. In that context, a series of meetings were held with the Kp to determine the most efficient organizational structure at local level in order to develop a workable implementation plan for community policing, and to establish a clear understanding among all Kp officers regarding their roles and responsibilities. In addition, the meetings aimed to develop a communication and marketing strategy for the public. Since the Kp introduced the new post of Community Policing Co-ordinators, the Department conducted a needs assessment in order to design a new training course for this specific target group. The training was meant to ensure that the Kp would have a consistent approach to community policing across Kosovo with all officers receiving identical training. The new Community Policing Co-ordinators were to be stationed at each police station. By the end of 2011, the Department concluded its “Community Policing Training” for the Kp and 40 newly appointed Community Policing Co-ordinators from all Kp stations. These officers were going to have responsibility for overseeing the local implementation of community policing within their respective police stations. On 18-19 October, the hosted a regional conference on “Community Policing for Nonmajority Communities”. Participants included OSCE officials, community policing officers, governmental and community representatives, as well as NGOs from across South-Eastern Europe. The conference focused on community policing and community safety practices in Kosovo and it allowed delegates from neighbouring states to present the work being undertaken in their countries. The delegates learned about good practices elsewhere, exchanged ideas and made valuable contacts. In a cross-departmental co-operation with the Department for Human Rights and Communities, the Department provided support to awareness raising campaigns that were promoting new ways of dialogue and co-operation between communities and the police. During the awareness raising campaigns the new policing concept was introduced, conveying the message that the Kp was interested to establish closer co-operation with all communities and to strengthen the trust of the non-majority communities, especially the Kosovo Serbs, in the Kp. Public Safety Awareness In support of its guiding principle that public confidence is a key element to ensure a transparent security sector, the Department, via its Public Safety Awareness component of the Special Advisory Unit, continued with activities that lead to enhanced of co-operation and interaction between the Kp and the people. The Department monitored and analyzed the performance and the effectiveness of the Kp Press and Public Information Office at the central level as well as in the regions related to the communication with the public and media, and designed a project to address the shortcomings in internal and external communication and public outreach performance. The Department also contributed to the drafting of amendments to the Law on Police focusing on legal provisions related to police communication with the public and media, and harmonizing these provisions with European best practices. 46