Assessment Missions conducted in the Area of Computer Based Training (CBT) - To Turkey, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia (3 November - 23 December 2009)

 

Outcomes of the Assessment Mission to Turkey, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (3 - 22 November 2009)

The purpose of the mission was to obtain a broader understanding of the overall context of law enforcement practices and standards in Albania and FYR Macedonia, map the existing law enforcement initiatives and networks in Albania and FYR Macedonia, and in doing so assess the capacity development needs of law enforcement agencies and persons in FYR Macedonia and Albania. In addition, following the mission a concrete plan for implementation of CBT Programme in law enforcement training with UNODC, law enforcement agencies in Albania and Macedonia is to be developed based on the existing CBT modules and training curricula, and a costed work plan is to be drafted to the existing XCE/U60 for the operationalization of CBT in FYR Macedonia and Albania.

During the course of the mission, meetings were held at UNODC Vienna to discuss the Balkans CBT assessment. It was agreed that focal points should be identified for all Balkan countries. Considerable discussion was devoted to the future implementation of CBT for the Balkans, as well as appropriate funding for the early part of 2010. An overview of CBT was presented to Ian Munro and the UNODC Justice and Integrity Unit, and the possibilities to develop CBT modules related to existing manuals produced on Community Policing and Justice by the Justice and Integrity Unit were discussed.

From November 8 - 10, 2009, meetings were held with UNODC staff and the Directing Staff at the Turkish International Academy against Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC) in Ankara, Turkey. Currently, there are 20 CBT sites in Turkey and a total of 9059 Turkish Law Enforcement Officers have undergone CBT training. A presentation was given by the Turkish Law Enforcement Directors at TADOC on their CBT facilities, and a discussion was held on the CBT Global Programme regarding how the programme will enhance the facility at TADOC in the development of new modules. Also, it was discussed with the Directorate Staff at TADOC how the UNODC can assist in organizing a presentation and viewing of TADOC's CBT facility in early 2010 for all South Eastern European countries. This would provide CBT focal points from each Balkan country an opportunity to attend TADOC prior to CBT implementation in their respective countries. The CBT facility at TADC is a first class venue for regional CBT workshops.

Between 11 - 14 November 2009, meetings were held in Tirana, Albania with the following law enforcement agencies: the Albanian Police HQ, the Albanian Organized Crime Office, the Albanian Customs Training Centre, and the Albanian Police Academy. During the meetings, presentations were presented on CBT and the local needs for CBT were assessed at each of these areas. In each case, the law enforcement agencies gave their full support to CBT and agreed to a meeting at TADOC in 2010 prior to acquiring the final endorsement by the Albanian government.

Meetings were held from 16 - 20 November 2009 in Skopje, FYR Macedonia with the Police Training Directorate, the Centre of Police Education of FYR Macedonia, the Financial Police Directorate, and the Ministry of Interior of FYR Macedonia, which included senior staff from Customs, Border Police and Immigration. During each of these meetings, the respective agencies agreed to support the implementation of CBT facilities within law enforcement facilities in Macedonia contingent upon the approval of the government.

A complete scoping report regarding the establishment of CBT in Albania and FYR Macedonia will be available in January 2010.

 

Outcomes of the Assessment Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia (29 November - 23 December 2009)

The purpose of this mission was to obtain a broader understanding of the law enforcement standards in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia, to assess the capacity development needs of the law enforcement agencies and persons, and to outline the existing law enforcement initiatives and networks in those countries.

During the period 29 November - 23 December 2009, meetings were held in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia in order to present the CBT programme, its benefits and the process of its implementation in the Balkan countries, as well as to obtain a broader understanding of the law enforcement agencies existing training and their needs.

From 30 November - 4 December 2009 meetings were held in Belgrade, Serbia with representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Head of Customs Training in Serbia. In addition, a visit was made to the Police High School Basic Police Training Centre in Sremska Kamenica.

Between 6 - 10 December 2009, meetings were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Sarajevo a visit was undertaken to the Ministry of Security, where meetings was held with representatives from various law enforcement agencies, namely the State Investigation, Protection Agency, and Border Police, the Ministry of Interior of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and police from the Brcko District. A visit was also made to the Police Academy in Sarajevo, where a meeting was held with the Director, Mr Taib Spahic.

Furthermore, a meeting was held with Director Mr. Goran Amidzic, head of the Police Academy at Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska.

From 10 - 15 December 2009, meetings were held in Montenegro. At the Police Academy in Danilovgradm, a meeting took place with the Director Mr Zivko Sipic. In addition, discussions were held with the Director of Customs Administration, Mr Bozidar Vukasinovic, as well as representatives from Customs Administration and Training.

From 15 - 20 December 2009 meetings were held in Zagreb, Croatia with representatives from the Customs Administration and the Police Academy, which was also visited.

In each of the meetings, the participants were given a presentation on CBT, and a discussion took place on their needs. Each country was then advised in regards to which CBT modules would benefit their training. The various phases of implementation and the necessary follow-up required by each law enforcement focal point in each respective country were discussed.

All focal points identified during this mission supported the full implementation of CBT and provided suitable sites in each country to establish CBT Labs. The law enforcement focal points will participate in a Balkan CBT workshop at TADOC in Ankara, Turkey in February 2010.

An assessment report detailing the training needs for the six Western Balkan countries, which will include a work plan and schedules for implementation for 2010, will be submitted in 2010.