Helmand to receive 200 new police officers

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

01.19.2011

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Another 200 police officers will begin patrolling the towns and villages of Helmand province, following the recent graduation from the Helmand Police Training Center Jan. 19.

The school, which is run by Afghan National Police and British soldiers from The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, has been operating since 2009. In that time it has trained more than 2,000 recruits.

The recruits are taught a variety of policing techniques, as well as military skills, and receive lessons in literacy and numeracy.

Graduates were all presented with certificates with special awards going to the top performers.

“It is important that people trust the police and co-operate with them,” said Gen. Abdul Hakeem Angar, chief of police, Helmand. “With these new, high quality officers that are being produced at the Helmand Police Training Center, that is increasingly the case. These new police officers have volunteered to serve the people and now they have the skills to do it.”

There are over 117,000 fully-trained Afghan National Policemen in Afghanistan and the aim is to reach a target of 134,000 by the end of 2011.

“Developing the Afghan police is about improving their professionalism, accountability and standards,” said Lt. Col. Adam Griffiths, commanding officer, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. “I congratulate these 200 new officers whose work will be crucial in the building and developing of Afghanistan, and freeing it from the grip of the insurgency.”

• Date Taken: 01.19.2011
• Date Posted: 01.21.2011 20:20
• Story ID: 63974
• Location: KABUL, AF