Improving the Effectiveness of Local Police in Iraq through Training and Mentoring

June 9, 2018

“Skills and knowledge gained through these trainings will also qualify the criminal investigation processes at local level”. Said Major General Zeyad, the Director General of Training and Qualification Directorate, MoI. photo: Dhuha Al-juhaishi/UNDP Iraq/2018

In March 2018, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) delivered a training and mentoring course for 23 mid-ranking police officers from the provinces of Anbar and Karbala on Improving the Effectiveness of Local Police (IELP). The Ministry of Interior's (MoI) Police Affairs Agency has identified IELP as a core police function in its on-going efforts to transform Iraqi police from a fighting force against ISIL to a more service-oriented civilian police service in post-war Iraq.  IELP, therefore, is one of the priority core functions in the proposed Local Police Service Road Map to support the Government of Iraq's (GOI) efforts to restore basic security service delivery at the local level.

The basic training course aimed to improve skills and techniques of local police on how to collect, validate, analyze and prioritize information to ensure effective and timely use of data in policing the operational context to improve public security. Specific emphasis is also given to police-public partnerships to prevent and respond to crime. In advance of each training workshop, a half-day seminar for police senior management from the MoI, and the Anbar and Karbala provincial police was held to introduce the IELP training and mentoring approach.

Following on from the training, in late April, UNDP visited the 23 mid-ranking police officers in Anbar and Karbala, to enhance the concept of IELP in the field and to follow up on action plans developed during the training course. UNDP's police advisors and instructors conducted individual mentoring sessions with participants in order to observe how the trainees have used their newly acquired skills and knowledge from the IELP Basic Training Course, and to provide them with further hands-on guidance and advice. UNDP also met with senior police management to ensure their continued support for advancing IELP as a core operational police function.

UNDP observed significant progress made in the implementation of participants’ IELP action plans. Notable achievements observed include establishing new partnerships with civilian groups for better information-sharing to prevent and mitigate crime; visiting schools to inform about role of the local police in ensuring security for the local population; and conducting briefings with relevant personnel on IELP principles.

Major General Zeyad, Director General of Training and Qualification Directorate, MoI said: “These trainings are very important in Government efforts to qualify the effectiveness of local police as the main security provider to the local communities and especially in the provinces where IDPs are returning after the successful victory over ISIL.  Skills and knowledge gained through these trainings will also qualify the criminal investigation processes at local level.

The Chief of Karbala Police, Major General Zwaini, expressed his full support for the IELP initiative, stating: “It is clear that IELP has already helped to develop better relations and information-sharing between police and the public they serve. This will help ensure that police have the best information available to use during investigations.”

Anbar Police Training Chief, Colonel Matlaq, stated: “We will fully support all course participants in their pursuit of advancing IELP in the operational context, with a specific emphasis on strengthening public partnerships and collaborations that is crucial to the development of Local Police Service in Anbar.

The IELP training and mentoring course was designed and implemented in close collaboration with MoI’s Police Affairs Agency and the Training and Qualification Directorate. UNDP and MoI Training Directorate plan to replicate the IELP training and mentoring courses more widely around Iraq, including in liberated areas. The first batch of participants who successfully completed the course will receive further mentoring sessions in future and will act as 'champions' to help advance this modern and useful police function in Iraq.

Furthermore, UNDP and MOI will initiate a series of IELP training of trainer (TOT) courses for police trainers from MOI and provincial training centres. The aim is to establish a core group of skilled IELP Iraqi police trainers to gradually take over the course delivery over time.

UNDP Senior Policing Advisor, Finn Bernth Andersen, said: “The commitment from both MOI, provincial senior management and the participants is impressive and shows that the IELP principles have been very well received. We are confident that these principles will help the Iraqi Local Police in enhancing their professionalism and efficiency by collecting, analyzing and sharing information based on better relations with the population.”

UNDP Rule of Law Programme supports a comprehensive programme on security sector reform in Iraq to assist the Government  in advancing its Security Sector Reform Programme. The overall programme of work is implemented through collaborative partnerships with the Office of the National Security Advisor, Ministry of Interior, Higher Judicial Council, Ministry of Justice, Parliamentary Security and Defence Committee, Iraqi civil society  and a range of International Partners.

For additional information, contact:

Ms. Chamila Hemmathagama, Rule of Law Programme Manager, (m) +964 751 184 3529