Police and Chernihiv Housing Association strengthen cooperation in ensuring the security of apartment buildings

In the near future, the heads of the associations of co-owners of apartment buildings (OSBB) of Chernihiv will include police officers in chat rooms in which residents of the buildings discuss common problems. This will allow law enforcement officers to respond promptly to offenses.

This agreement was reached by the participants of the round table “Cooperation aimed at ensuring the security of apartment buildings”, which was held on August 6 with the participation of representatives of the police, the Municipal Guard of the Chernihiv City Council and the heads of the OSBB of Chernihiv and at the initiative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights.

“In these chats, the police will see what problems exist in a particular condominium. For example, residents of the building can post photo and video evidence in the chat that citizens are selling counterfeit alcohol in one of the apartments. Or one of the residents saw marks on their doors that could have been left by apartment thieves. If suspicious groups of people often gather near a building, the police will adjust patrol routes. The precinct officers will pay more attention to the area near this condominium, and if necessary, they will involve crews from the Patrol Police Department or the National Guard,” emphasized the deputy head of the Department of Preventive Activities of the regional police

Andrey Zelyak

.

A precinct police officer can also be invited to a meeting of the association of co-residents of an apartment building to report.

The representative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Kateryna Dankova presented the experience of cooperation between the police and individual condominiums within the framework of the “Neighborhood Watch” initiative, which has been implemented in Chernihiv since 2018. “Neighborhood Watch” is an approach that helps to increase the level of security of the house and the surrounding area through the activity of the condominium, and also establishes cooperation between the police, local authorities and the residents of the house themselves.

“As part of the Neighborhood Watch, in cooperation with the police, we held information and educational events for adults and children of condominiums. The topics are different – from discussing security issues that concern residents and the algorithm of actions in crisis situations, to holding “Safe Yard” actions during which children were taught traffic rules,” emphasized

Kateryna Dankova

.

In turn, the heads of the condominium associations who participated in the event spoke about current problems with the security of houses and yards. Among them: thefts, illegal sale of alcohol and the establishment of dens in houses, parking of cars in green areas and issues of landscaping the adjacent territory.

Thus, the head of one of the condominium associations in Chernihiv complained about spontaneous trade and constant drinking of alcohol in her house.

Police representatives agreed with the heads of condominium associations where there are similar problems to determine the time of accumulation of people who drink alcoholic beverages in order to conduct joint raids and ensure public order.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights as part of the implementation of the project “Enhancing Security – Building the Community” with the support of the US Embassy in Ukraine.