Sixteen new commune police offices will be opening in six provinces around the country over the next month as part of an Australian government initiative to increase access to law enforcement, Cambodian police said this week.
The first official opening took place on Wednesday in Kompong Chhnang province, with the rest of the posts set to open in the provinces of Prey Veng, Battambang, Kandal, Siem Reap and Kompong Thom, according to National Police spokesman Kirth Chantharith.
Funded as part of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs’ Cambodia Community Justice Assistance Partnership, General Chantharith said the offices cost between $35,000 and $37,000 each and would be staffed by 10 to 20 officers, depending on the commune.
He said the new police posts added to 25 that have been built over the past five years through the partnership.
“If we don’t have the office and something happens, it is difficult to find the police for help,” he said. “If we have the office, it provides better conditions for the police to serve the people.”
Huot Synead, deputy director of administration at the Interior Ministry, said all 16 posts would be operating by the end of April.
