The National Police of Timor-Leste PNTL has set up 12 the District Operation Centres (DOPs) improve communication between district based operations and PNTL’s national operations centre.
The Chief of the Department of National Operations Services Chief Inspector Augusto Tilman said the role of the district operations centre was to communicate any incidents that take place in the community at the district level and so there is better coordination of PNTL operations with the central operations centre in Dili.
“We will need to set up additional equipment such as computers and systems so we can speed up communication. We also need to capacitate further district police to work more efficiently,” said Chief Tilman in Kaikoli, Dili.
He acknowledged that the existing coordination mechanisms are not adequate and sometimes communication was not effective and was late because district operation centres did not exist.
District Operation Centres have been set up in Suai, Lospalos, Viqueque, Bobonaro, Manatuto, Ainaro, Ermera, Liquisa, Baucau, Same, Oe-cusse and Aileu districts.
Member of Parliament MP Cesar Valented supported the initiative nevertheless questioned whether a viability study was conducted prior to implementation.
“This is good but we must ensure its continuation and that it will achieve significant progress,” said MP Valente.
The MP added that there have been other instances where centres have been built in the districts but due to lack of control have been abandoned.
“A waste of money,” said MP Valente.
