PW_1_2024

Professional Development

EIN, ZWEI, POLIZEI German Exchange Program 2023 Ryan Fitt In our last edition, Andy Weinand gave his account of an IPA Exchange Programme, with the Police in Cologne. This time, his colleague Ryan Fitt adds his experiences. We also hear about Cologne’s Pia Mack and Lars Matuschka, making the return exchange to London.

I n August 2023, the two serving Met Officers travelled to Cologne, in Germany, to take part in the first exchange program set up between IPA 9 Region and IPA Verbindungsstelle Siegburg. The program saw Ryan and Andy spend four days hosted by German officers from the local Siegburg Polizei, and engage in a range of professional and social activities. (equivalent of the Commissioner) for the Rhein Sieg Kreis Polizei. Andreas had been one half of creating the exchange, along with IPA London Reception Officer (Serving Met Officer) Alex Williams. Much of their programme, including visits to the Bundespolizei HQ, GSG9 Counter Terrorism Unit and the local Siegburg ‘brauhaus’ or brewery, is told in Andy’s account. A highlight for our un-armed officers, was training with a Firearms Instructor, leading into live round target practice and hostage situation scenarios, something that the officers probably wouldn’t get to encounter outside of the exchange program Ryan and Andy were hosted by Andreas Piastowski, the Leitender Polizidirektor

Station, where Alex Williams gave them a tour of the station, its various units, custody suite and vehicle fleet. With the recent refurb of Charing Cross, the officers could see the station through the ages, and were given a history of local policing and policing within the Met. After the station tour, Pia and Lars were taken back to their host families for the evening. Next day, Pia and Lars visited Bishopsgate Police Station for an insight into the City of London Police. An IPA member serving in the CoLP, took the pair on a ride along around the square mile, explaining the role of a CoLP officer, its jurisdiction, and no doubt how they are better than the Met! Pia and Lars walked several miles on foot patrol with local officers, before meeting senior officers. They then met some CoLP specialist police units, including the dog unit and firearms. Later that evening Pia, Lars, Ryan and Alex visited The Tower of London for the famous ceremony of the keys event. We were given a private tour of the tower by an off duty yeoman warder, a unique experience to see the tower and its grounds without the bustle of the everyday tourists. We were invited into the yeoman warder’s private bar, where coincidently, we met an IPA member from Australia. Day 3 saw Pia and Lars back with the Met, in Hackney. They worked alongside Ryan and his team, on the Violence Suppression Unit in Stoke Newington. Pia and Lars learned more Met history, from Bethnal Green legend and veteran DC Nobby

due to officers not being armed in the UK. Day 3 was a particularly exciting day for Ryan. Given his involvement in UK Football Policing and Public Order, he spent the day with his counterparts from the Football Policing Unit in Cologne. They worked a pre-season friendly fixture between FC Koln and Nantes FC. The day was spent alongside ‘spotters’ or, Operational Football Officers, as they’re known in the UK. As well as spotters, a specialist Riot Unit was on duty to support Ryan and his German colleagues, in monitoring a group of 100+ high risk French supporters in Cologne city centre. Ryan was treated to pitch side tickets to the match and the spectacular atmosphere within the stadium. It was a fantastic day discussing football, the difference in football policing and tactics, as well as a victory for FC Koln, plus a few new IPA members signed up along the way. Andy and Ryan described this as “among the best four days of their policing careers”. They made new friends and have lasting memories for the future. The program already has three months’ worth of officers from both countries lined up to swap places before the year is out. Without the efforts of Andreas and Alex, none of this would have been possible. It is a credit to the IPA and its mission. Now for the hard part, living up to the standards the Germans had set when their officers arrived in London two weeks later. Pia Mack and Lars Matuschka were the German half of this exchange visit. They were picked up by Ryan and taken to Charing Cross Police

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POLICE WORLD Vol 69 No.1, 2024