POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE The Presence has developed the capacities of the Albanian State Police, with a focus on the implementation of laws and approximation with international standards and best practices in the policing sector. The Presence has provided support, technical assistance, monitoring, mentoring and advice. Activities completed have contributed to achieving the wider policy objective of providing assistance to Albania in developing a police serving and trusted by its citizens, while also being accountable to them. However, challenges remain within the police regarding criminal investigations, community policing, and resource management, which require continuous assistance from the Presence. Activities Related to General Police Development and Reform Police Management / Human Resources In January, responding to a request by the Albanian State Police, the Presence contracted an expert for the purpose of assisting the police in reviewing and better managing its informant handling system. The expert conducted a series of meetings at the police headquarters and at three regional police directorates in Tirana, Shkodra and Vlora in order to better understand current procedures on recruitment and handling of informants and other confidential sources, as well as challenges faced in this process. After collecting all the information and data, the expert conducted a comprehensive gap analysis and provided recommendations on improving the system. Having received the document in June, the Albanian State Police began implementing the recommendations in the second half of 2016. The implementation process continues and has been closely monitored by the Presence. Community Policing, Police-Public Relations and Crime Prevention On 2 December, the first meeting of a Local Public Safety Council (LPSC), the first structure of this kind in Albania and established with the assistance of the Presence, took place in the municipality of Elbasan. The primary goal of the LPSC is to mobilize all local stakeholders to jointly address issues linked to criminality, domestic violence and violent extremism. This advisory body, chaired by the mayor, will also serve to identify local community safety challenges. The Presence will work to establish LPSCs in a number of other municipalities during the coming months. Gender-based and Domestic Violence On 1 and 2 March, the Presence organized a train-thetrainers course for 16 Albanian law enforcement officers. Participants learned about standard operating procedures when dealing with cases of domestic violence, relevant legislation, and how to develop and use case studies. From 25 to 27 April, as part of an effort to build partnerships between citizens and institutions in the security sector, the Presence launched a preparatory training programme on the establishment of LPSCs for local actors in the municipalities of Korça and Gjirokastra. The concept of the LPSCs was presented to some 30 municipal officials dealing with domestic violence, trafficking in human beings and minors, as well as representatives of the State Social Services, Educational Directorate, Regional Health Directorate, State Police, Probation Service, and NGOs. Participants were given training on legislation relevant to the LPSCs, domestic violence and youth crimes. This training programme is the first tangible step towards establishing these Councils. Subsequent steps will involve discussions with mayors and regional Police Directors aimed at signing a formal document between the institutions to officially establish LPSCs in these two pilot municipalities. In April, May and June, the Presence organized five training courses on domestic violence responses for police officers from the Police Directorate in Elbasan, Lezha, Durrës, Dibër, Vlora and Gjirokastra. A total of 210 police officers were trained on police procedures regarding domestic violence, inter-agency co-operation and the referral mechanism. The participants who received the training will serve as assistant trainers. Hate Crime On 5 and 6 April and on 13 and 14 April, the Presence organized a training programme on countering hate crimes for instructors from the State Police’s Security Academy, as well as regional police directorate inspectors. The training session, delivered to all new recruits at the Security Academy, provided approximately 40 participants with basic skills for addressing hate crimes. This is the first time that the Security Academy has included hate crime curricula in its training programmes. The Presence also delivered six 43