PW_4_2020

Professional Development

S Policing with Communities in Fragile and Conflict Affected States Mark O’Donoghue , Joint International Policing Hub In January of this year, the UK’s Joint International Policing Hub (JIPH), together with the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior and Strategic Expertise International, delivered a five-day Security & Justice course entitled Policing with Communities in Fragile and Conflict Affected States, on behalf of the European Union Police & Civilian Services Training Programme. E R V O P E R A M I K E C O I N T E R N A T I O N A L P O L I C E A I O N

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T he course was aimed at serving police officers and civilian members of police organisations who are deployed, or waiting to deploy on international policing missions at a middle management level or above. The course can be delivered by any of our consortium countries. The course, in Bulgaria’s capital of Sophia, was attended by 22 officers and law enforcement academics from: UK, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Finland, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary and Montenegro. The course was officially opened by the UK Ambassador, Her Excellency Emma Hopkins OBE. The overall objective of the course was to build the capabilities, understanding and skills required for policing in different communities. In particular, it examined the role of a police mentor; when working with diverse, minority and vulnerable communities. It also reviewed good practice in working with community partners, and the development of training in fragile and post-conflict states. The course drew on practical and theoretical elements from UK, EU and other international approaches. But it also drew on the skills and experiences of the participants themselves, by introducing case studies from recent international missions. The course was led by officers with current international experience.

These courses are part of the European Union Police Services Training programme. The courses have been running since 2011, and a new three year programme: European Union Police & Civilian Services Training began in 2019. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNM) is the lead partner in the consortium and runs the EUPCST Programme Office. The UK has contracted to the programme for the next three years, and our membership will continue post Brexit. The UK’s partnership with Bulgaria has been very successful, and we are the first two countries to deliver a course jointly.

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POLICE WORLD Vol 65 No.4, 2020

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