UN trains police in crime investigation

26 September 2011 – UN agencies in South Sudan began a two-week training course for 40 of the country's police officers yesterday in the capital of Juba to build their capacities in crime awareness and investigation.

The training, which has drawn participants from all 10 South Sudanese states, includes sessions on identifying and investigating crime as well as reporting cases.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Kaman Dou Ayuel of the Criminal Investigation Department, South Sudan Police Service (SSPS), said criminal investigation was among the most important units in the police.

"Crime investigation leads us to know what exactly happens and...gives us a good idea of the background of the crime," Mr. Ayuel said.

The training is a partnership between UNMISS, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

UNODC Project Coordinator Aggrey Nyapola said the course aimed to build the capacity of the police in interpreting collected information for members of the justice system as well as the public.

Incidents the police tackled daily like crimes, accidents and natural disasters left traces behind that needed proper analysis, said Mr. Nyapola.

"Collection and interpretation of credible information is what you ... do to enable you to present credible information in court," he said.

Mr. Nyapola added that UNODC was developing a document on police reforms in South Sudan.

Emmanuel Joof of UNDP said the training would reduce bottlenecks in the criminal justice system. "Justice is like a chain link," the Rule of Law Programme Manager said. "The prosecution is not prosecuting on time; the judiciary is not processing cases on time."

Mr. Joof urged the trainees to use skills they acquired to improve work they had been doing in the field.

UNMISS Deputy Police Commissioner Klaus Dieter Tietz advised participants to share knowledge they had received with other officers in their respective states.

The training, which is being funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, will conclude on 7 October.

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