5 December 2011 – As part of the UNMISS' mandate to strengthen security services in South Sudan, UN Police in Eastern Equatoria State began a two-week criminal investigation course for local police today in the capital Torit.

Attended by 33 participants, two of whom are female, the training will comprise both theoretical and practical exercises in conducting investigations, finding criminals and handling suspects.

During the opening ceremony, South Sudan Police Services (SSPS) State Director General of Training Colonel Jacob Bangot said he hoped the activity would boost the SSPS' overall capacity.

"We expect the training to improve the lack of expertise among our staff," said Mazi Gani Mazi, Deputy Director of the state Criminal Investigation Division, calling on trainees to learn as much as they can and bring changes to their respective offices.

Additional training on information coordination and policing skills will be held at later dates.

Separately, governance and economic consultancy firm Adam Smith International (ASI) began a three-day training on information coordination for SSPS radio operators from the eight counties in Eastern Equatoria State.

In 2010, ASI helped to establish SSPS/Sudan People's Liberation Army Joint Operations Centres (JOCs) for information collection, verification, analysis and reporting during the 2010 elections.

"We have now expanded the operation to county level and the current trainees are drawn from all counties of Eastern Equatoria State," said ASI Eastern Equatoria State Security Advisor William Paterson.