Model Precinct/Smart Policing Training Project - Lima

The Peruvian National Police (PNP) is a relatively young organization founded in 1988 during the height of Peru’s battle against terrorism. Since its inception, the organization has focused on its counterterrorism and counternarcotics mandates to the detriment of citizen security and community policing capacity. As the threat of terrorism in Peru receded, Peruvians have become increasingly concerned about citizen security in their communities. Transparency International’s 2022 perceptions of corruption survey confirmed insecurity is Peruvian’s top concern. Due to rampant corruption, another top problem for Peruvians, trust in the police lags significantly—in the same survey, the PNP ranked sixth most corrupt Peruvian institution (with Peruvians aged 18-25 ranking it third worst).  

Partnering with the private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Peru’s Model Police Precinct (MPP) project will assist the PNP in implementing modern, proactive policing strategies throughout Peru to enhance PNP capacity to prevent crime and reduce violence. This will benefit the citizenry of Peru by promoting security in local communities and fostering increased trust in the PNP, which has suffered in the wake of recent protests. The Peru MPP project is being developed for nationwide coverage. However, it will initially be implemented in up to four prioritized high-crime regions after consultation between INL, the project implementer, the PNP, and the Minister of Interior (MOI). Buy-in from the government of Peru (GOP) is critical to the project’s long-term sustainability. Later, this may be increased to seven designated regions. 

Working with INL Lima, the project implementer will develop and implement the MPP project to help shift the PNP’s current crime control priorities from solely large national security programs (such as eradication and interdiction operations) to regional community policing projects. The intent is to assist the PNP in fulfilling its core mission of preventing, detecting, and reducing criminal activity, while working with limited personnel, limited resources, inadequate specialized skills training, and a narrow law enforcement focus. 

The Peru MPP project will deliver community policing strategies and techniques to the PNP and demonstrate how implementing community-based policing strategies will enable the PNP to execute the full range of police services at the district level more effectively.