14 December 2012- Seeking to boost their skills in criminal investigation, 12 South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) officers completed an intensive training in the Lakes State capital Rumbek today.

The three-week course, organized and conducted by UN Police (UNPOL), focused on topics like crime scene management, forensic evidence and trial as well as evidence presentation. It was attended by officers from the SSNPS crime unit as well as criminal investigation and traffic departments.

Speaking during the certificate-awarding ceremony, UNMISS State Coordinator Gilbert Nantsa urged police officers to put South Sudan interests above personal and tribal sentiments.

"You are the first line of justice," he added. "A professional investigation into criminal matters will bring justice for the victims and avoid inter-communal clashes."

Recent discussions among different community leaders' groups had attributed most revenge inter-communal attacks to lack of justice and poor handling of cases, allegedly by police and state actors.

One of the trainees, Sergeant John Manyang Deng, said the training's practical aspects were particularly useful. "As we went through the course, I realized we had lapses (and were doing) certain things wrong."

State Inspector of Police Mangar Makeny hailed UNMISS urged police officers to heed the training.

"Put into practice what you have learned to save your state and country from clashes", he said. "Take advantage of adult literacy programmes to enhance your performance."

Mr. Makeny said that officers who failed to perform would be dropped from the police service.