Uruzgan’s law enforcement boost

Law enforcement in Uruzgan province will receive a boost of skilled patrolmen with the induction of 154 trainees into the Regional Training Centre – Kandahar.

The Afghan Uniform Police (AUP) recruits began their basic patrolman’s course at the Regional Training Centre – Kandahar on 26 October 2013.

This is the first time Uruzgan Provincial Chief of Police, Brigadier-General Matiullah Khan, has sent his untrained police officers to the training centre at Kandahar.

The trainees were transported by Kandahar Air Wing from Multi National Base -Tarin Kot on 23 October to begin the eight-week course.

Lieutenant Colonel Jon R Siepmann, Commander 184th Security Force Assistance Team, said Brigadier-General Matiullah Khan was initially hesitant to send his patrolmen out of the province, especially by road, because of the added security concerns.

“It’s rewarding to watch the police and Afghan National Army work together to solve a complex problem; in this case transporting large numbers of personnel across provinces,” he said.

“The initiative shows their capability to plan and execute internally without a significant ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] involvement.

“It also shows the Afghan National Security Force’s dedication to improving regional security by significantly reducing the number of untrained police, especially in the months leading up to the 2014 elections.”

Since July 2011, Afghan security authorities have been assuming responsibility for law and order and by 2014 will be in a position to ensure Afghanistan’s security without international assistance.

The Afghan Uniform Police is the largest component of the Afghan National Police and is responsible for general policing duties.

Of the nearly 157,000 national police serving in 2013, 73 per cent are uniformed police.

In Uruzgan province there are close to 5700 Afghan Uniform Police.

Colonel Mohammad Dawood, Recruitment Officer for the Afghan Uniform Police in Uruzgan, said the students starting the basic patrolman’s course in Kandahar were from across Uruzgan province.

“They are also from different ethnicities, such as Pashtun, Hazara, Tajik, and Uzbeck, and all want to serve their country,” he said.

“During their basic training they will be taught discipline and how to be a good policeman.

“They will also learn how to communicate with people in the communities, uphold the rule of law and observe human rights.”

The Afghan Uniform Police is assigned mainly to police stations and check points throughout Afghanistan and is often the first response when an incident occurs.

There are police headquarters in each of the provinces and a police station in each of the 364 districts of Afghanistan.

The Regional Training Centre – Kandahar has trained more than 22,000 students over 151 training cycles since its opening in 2004.