In an effort to enhance the skills of village and commune police forces, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has directed the National Police to establish training mechanisms. 

This directive was issued during a meeting on December 26 in Prey Veng province, where the minister reviewed the 2023 work results and set the direction for 2024. 

Noting the need to strengthen commune security forces nationwide, Sokha urged the National Police to create a standardised training manual. He proposed initiating training with four to five trainers in police stations in the capital and provinces, with the goal of further instructing town, district police officials and commune security forces. 

“We will design this training with clear language, on subjects ranging from walkie-talkie use to providing guidance on what police forces should or shouldn’t do as they offer friendly assistance,” he explained.

“Moreover, these trainers can work as trustworthy allies, easing the burdens of local police and assisting with tasks in communes,” he added.

“The training for commune security forces holds great importance, helping them grasp their vital role in ensuring local safety and implementing the safe village-commune policy. It enables them to understand their duties, boundaries, and what actions are within or beyond their scope,” Chey Tech, an independent socio-economic analyst remarked.

National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun said that with this guidance, the National Police are gearing up for training. It’s worth noting that commune security forces aren’t public officials or justice police. So, the focus of their training is equipping them with skills in managing forces, effective communication with the community and maintaining public order, with a special focus on prioritising public order. 

“We can’t train them exactly like the police, but we can certainly give them a better grasp of order and road traffic laws. In fact, we’ve previously trained village security guards,” he said.

“Commune police chiefs take the lead in training them to protect and collaborate with police officials. They’re the ones overseeing this responsibility. The training for this falls under the Police Academy of Cambodia, so we’ll eagerly await their plans,” he added.

Sam Vichheka, spokesman for the Phnom Penh municipal police, stated that he couldn’t provide additional comments on this training, as a meeting is currently pending.

As per the ministry, commune security forces previously served as village security guards after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime. Their dedication involved safeguarding lives and properties of commune and village residents, working under the leadership and coordination of local police. 

Notably, during the 2022 commune election and the 2023 general election, they actively collaborated with the National Police to ensure security and contribute to the smooth conduct of the elections.