A Local Council on Public Safety (LCPS) meeting was held in Elbasan, with the participation of the Mayor, Gledian Llatja, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Anisa Ruseti, the Prefect Ilir Bejtja, the Police Director Fatmir Hoxha, the head of the Prosecution Office Kreshnik Ajazi, the SCPA Program , as well as representatives of local institutions, education, civil society, and the media. Mr. Llatja emphasized that disinformation on social networks is fought through civic trust, institutional cooperation, and investment in young people, praising the Council’s role in in-volving them in security matters. Ms. Ruseti praised Elbasan as a model of cooperation among the 61 municipalities, while announcing that the Ministry is drafting the new Public Safety Strategy. The measures of the 2026–2027 School Safety Package were also dis-cussed, and the “Report Now” application was presented for reporting problematic cases and protecting children. The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation, once again confirming the Elbasan CLSP as a model of success.

Më 30 korrik 2026 u zhvillua një takim pune me një grup përfaqësuesish të Specialistëve të  Policimit në Zonë/Oficerëve të Policisë Kriminale, gjatë të cilit u testua formulari i ri i vlerësimit të riskut për viktimat e dhunës. Diskutimet u përqendruan në zbatueshmërinë praktike të formularit, qartësinë e pyetjeve dhe indikatorëve të riskut, metodologjinë e vlerësimit, si dhe nevojën për unifikimin e praktikave të përdorimit të tij nga strukturat përgjegjëse. Pjesëmarrësit ndanë komente dhe sugjerime konkrete për përmirësimin e formularit, me synim që ai të mundësojë një identifikim sa më të saktë të nivelit të riskut dhe të mbështesë marrjen në kohë të masave mbrojtëse për viktimat.  

On 15th July 2026, the meeting of the Local Council for Public Safety (LCPS) was held in Shijak Municipality, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Prefecture of Durrës District, Shijak Municipality, the Albanian State Police, educational institutions and the Community Policing Strengthening Program in Albania (SCPA). The focus of the meeting was on security priorities during the summer season, preparations for the start of the new school year and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation within the framework of the new Public Safety Strategy. At the opening of the meeting, the Mayor of Shijak Municipality, Mr. Elton Arbana, praised the functioning of the LCPS as an effective inter-institutional coordination mechanism and reconfirmed that the concerns identified by the Local Safety Measurement System (LSMS)  regarding road safety and reducing vehicle speed have been addressed through concrete interventions by the municipality and responsible institutions. Deputy The Minister of Interior and Chairperson of the National Council for Public Safety, Ms. Anisa Ruseti, praised the very positive results of the Municipality of Shijak in the LSMS 2025, emphasizing that the municipality ranks among the best at the national level for the perception of security and citizens’ trust in institutions. She emphasized the importance of verifying the functioning of security cameras and the presence of security officers in schools, in cooperation with education structures and the Ministry of Education, before the start of the new school year. The Prefect of Durrës District, Mr. Adrian Gurra, emphasized that the issues raised reflect the challenges of a developing municipality and underlined that addressing them requires continuous coordination between central and local institutions. He expressed the Prefecture’s full support for strengthening the functioning of the LCPS and inter-institutional cooperation. The Head of the Shijak Police Station presented the operational priorities for the coming period, emphasizing the need to increase preventive measures against fires during the summer season, as well as to strengthen control to prevent the cultivation of narcotics. On behalf of the SCPA Program, Mr. Ansi Shundi, Programme Management Team Leader, brought to attention several challenges that are gaining importance at the national level, such as children’s cyber safety, bullying on social networks and road safety of minors. He proposed organizing, in cooperation with the Shijak Municipality, the Albanian State Police and educational institutions, awareness-raising activities during the month of September to promote a culture of safety among children and young people, including practical demonstrations on the importance of using seat belts and safe behavior on the road. During the discussions, the members of the LCPS raised as priority issues waste management, environmental pollution and the need for the continuation of preventive measures to maintain high safety standards in the Municipality of Shijak. In conclusion, the participants agreed to continue inter-institutional coordination for the implementation of priority measures and to strengthen the role of the LCPS in community safety planning and monitoring. For the SCPA Program, this meeting represents an important step in the institutionalization of the use of evidence in decision-making, ensuring that the findings of the Community Safety Measurement System are discussed at the local level and serve as a basis for the drafting of priorities, local plans of measures and community policing policies.  

On 9th July 2026, the Institute for Strategic Development (ISD) held an information and awareness-raising meeting with women and girls from the community at the National Multidisciplinary Center, in Administrative Unit no. 9, Tirana. The activity aimed to increase the participants’ knowledge on the forms of domestic violence and gender-based violence, its early signs, as well as the mechanisms available for reporting, protection and support. Special attention was also paid to forms of violence facilitated by technology, which can be exercised through telephone, messages, digital platforms and social networks. The participants were also introduced to the latest developments in the legal framework, victims’ rights, support services and institutions responsible for the treatment, referral and follow-up of cases. The information was conveyed through concrete situations, with the aim of translating legal and institutional knowledge into clear and usable guidelines: how to identify signs of violence, when to seek help and where women and girls can turn for protection and support. The activity was organized in the framework of the project “Decision-Making that Protects – Strengthening Police Response and Professional Standards in Dealing with Domestic and Gender-Based Violence”, implemented by the Institute for Strategic Development, in the framework of the Grant Scheme from the SCPA Program “Strengthening Community Policing in Albania”.  

On 2 July 2026, the meeting of the Local Council for Public Safety (LCPS) was held in the Municipality of Durres, with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Interior and Chair of the National Council for Public Safety, Ms. Anisa Ruseti, the Mayor of Durrës, Ms. Emiriana Sako, representatives of the State Police, local institutions and the SCPA Program. The meeting focused on the analysis of the security situation in the municipality and the strengthening of inter-institutional coordination to address community priorities. In her welcoming speech, the Deputy Minister of Interior and Chair of the National Council for Public Safety, Ms. Anisa Ruseti, emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of the Local Councils for Public Safety as mechanisms of inter-institutional coordination, underlining that community safety is a shared responsibility of central and local institutions and that the planning of measures should be based on analysis, evidence and continuous inter-institutional cooperation. The Mayor of Durrës, Ms. Emiriana Sako, reconfirmed the municipality’s commitment to continue close cooperation with the State Police and other responsible institutions in implementing measures to increase security and improve the quality of life of citizens. She praised the LCPS as an important mechanism for coordinating inter-institutional actions and addressing security priorities at the local level. During the meeting, the results of the Local Safety Measurement System (LSMS) 2025 were presented, which provided evidence of high levels of citizen trust in the State Police, low reported crime, and identify the main priorities for intervention, including traffic and parking management, improving lighting and security in public spaces, and strengthening security near schools. The discussions focused on how these findings will be translated into concrete measures through the cooperation of the LCPS member institutions. In conclusion, the members of the LCPS agreed that the findings of the LSMS should serve as a basis for updating the Local Action Plan, defining concrete actions and clear responsibilities for each institution. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of inter-institutional cooperation and the use of data in planning policies and measures for a safer community. For the SCPA Program, this meeting represents an important step in institutionalizing the use of evidence in decision-making, ensuring that the findings of the LSMS are discussed at the local level, integrated into the LCPS consultations and serve as a basis for drafting community policing policies and local action plans.  

On 25th June 2026, the Antigone Multifunctional Cultural Center held a travelling theater performance in Libohova, prepared and performed by young people, conveying important messages on the prevention of bullying in schools and the community. The performance was received with great enthusiasm by the audience, receiving continuous applause after each of the three acts. About 50 participants, including students, parents, teachers, social workers and psychologists, followed this activity with interest and attention. At the end of the performance, the participants were involved in an open conversation with the actors and organizers, where they shared their thoughts and positive assessments on the treatment of the topic of bullying, a worrying phenomenon that continues to affect children and young people, but which often remains underestimated in Albanian society. The performances of the mobile theater group will continue in other municipalities of the Gjirokastra region, with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging community response to this issue. This activity was developed within the framework of the project “From Awareness to Action: Preventing the Culture of Bullying in Schools and the Community”, which is implemented with the support of the SCPA Program Grant Scheme.  

In the framework of the SCPA Program Grant Scheme, on 19 June 2026, “Woman to Woman” NGO held a meeting with the members of the Coordinated Referral Mechanism (CRM) in the Municipality of Malesi e Madhe. The meeting aimed to assess the functioning of the mechanism during the first half of 2026, to identify good cooperation practices and to identify challenges for its improvement. Representatives of the member institutions of the CRM, including the Local Coordinator for Domestic Violence, the State Police and representatives of administrative units participated in the activity. During the discussions, inter-institutional cooperation and effective coordination in the timely identification, referral and management of cases of domestic violence and gender-based violence were positively assessed. Among the main challenges was the lack of human resources in some administrative units. The participants also appreciated the importance of the trainings conducted and expressed the need for their continuity, as well as for updating knowledge on legal changes and CRM procedures. The meeting ended with the confirmation of the effective functioning of the mechanism and with the commitment to further strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and professional capacities of members.  

For many young people, their first contact with various forms of violence does not occur in institutions or in extreme situations. It can occur in the classroom, in social groups, on social networks or in relationships that at first glance seem ordinary. For this reason, the ability to recognize the early signs of violence and react to them is an essential element of prevention. During a session held with students of the elementary-middle school “Lidhja e Prizrenit”, the discussion focused on the challenges that young people face today, including bullying, cyberbullying, digital safety, healthy relationships and various forms of violence that can affect their well-being and development. Beyond theoretical information, attention was focused on concrete situations that young people encounter in everyday life and on ways in which they can seek support when faced with them. Experience shows that young people are often able to identify problematic behaviors, but do not always feel confident to report them or seek help. This makes it particularly important to create spaces where they can speak openly, ask questions and receive reliable information about the protection mechanisms available to them. The activity was developed by the Institute for Strategic Development (ISD), within the project “Decision-Making that Protects – Strengthening the Police Response and Professional Standards in Dealing with Domestic and Gender-Based Violence”, in the SCPA Program Grant Scheme.

On 09-10 June 2026,  General Patrol Officers and Command and Control Room personnel from Tropoja Police Commissariat (Kukes LPD) participated in the training delivered by SCPA PMT. During this training the trainees were introduced to both theoretical and practical exercises and group work by focusing on CP philosophy and implementation of its elements into the daily routine of ASP officers. In addition, they were presented with situations/practical exercises to be handled with and solved by them as they work in groups with the aim of providing measures to be taken proactively in order to implement the CP elements. Special attention was given to the theoretical and practical treatment of cases of Domestic Violence. Best EU practices on CP philosophy implementation were shared with the ASP officers. At the end of such training the ASP officers are able to enhance their knowledge and capacities on implementation of CP.  

On 3rd June 2026, “I, the Woman” NGO held an information session with students of the “Nefail Rozani” high school in Podgorie, Maliq, focusing on the risks of digital violence and protection in the online space. The event was attended by students, the school’s pedagogical staff, representatives of the State Police, specialists from the Child Protection Unit, social services specialists and representatives of the “I, the Woman” NGO. The activity was held within the framework of the project “Preventing domestic violence through institutional coordination”. During the discussions, the risks associated with the uncontrolled use of social networks, the mechanisms for reporting cases of online violence and the role of institutions in identifying and handling them were addressed. The students were informed about the importance of protecting personal data and using the internet safely.