The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, in collaboration with the National Police, conducted a training course for 57 traffic police officers. The training was required, as new systems have been introduced which will allow officers to issue fines and demerit points to errant drivers.
It is hoped that the improved technology will expedite officer’s abilities to manage traffic, as well as forming a central database of driving offences. Managing this data should lead to more effective policing and a corresponding drop in accidents.
The course was conducted on February 7 at the ministry’s headquarters and was presided over by undersecretary of state Pen Boran and National Police deputy chief Him Yan.
The Department of Traffic Police and Public Order sent 15 officers while 16 Phnom Penh municipal police availed themselves of the training. A total of 15 Kandal provincial police officers also attended, as did 11 of their counterparts from Kampong Speu.
The three trainers were provided by the National Police, the Department of Information Technology and Public Relation and electronic payment service provider True Money.
Yan said at the event that the training was focused on three points – first, to increase the ability of officers to use the new technology. It also modelled system operating procedures and demonstrated how the fines and demerit point systems would work. Finally, the training discussed the management of information and the storage of penalty data.
“All of the skills and information which we delivered to our officers today are in line with the National Police’s vision of building technology that helps us handle crime. Whether traffic or criminal offences, we will be able to compile all of the data into a modern crime management system,” he said.
Boran thanked the participating forces for sending their officers to attend the training. He was particularly effusive in his praise for the National Police for initiating the use of new ideas to keep up with the demands of a rapidly developing society.
“Technology certainly provides modern solutions, but requires learning. This course was the first held to address training with these new tools. I am satisfied that the trainees have received the necessary skills. As we all know, without the required abilities, new technology is useless,” he said.
Boran added that he expected the newly-qualified trainees to take their skills back to their respective police stations and pass on their proficiencies to their fellow officers.
