News story: UK policing forum considers way ahead for international policing

The Joint International Policing Hub (JIPH) hosted a two day conference in Liverpool on 21-22 March 2017, bringing together participants from across UK policing to discuss the UK’s role in supporting international policing efforts in fragile and conflict affected states, and beyond.

Brandon Lewis, Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, opened the event, underlining the importance of international policing:

“It is clear that collectively, more can be done to maximise the benefits from effective international policing – be they protecting our people at home and abroad; projecting our global influence; or promoting our policing capability.

UK policing has a strong reputation with international recognition of its professionalism and performance. Our policing expertise and skills are in demand across the globe. The knowledge contained in police forces across the UK – and in the law enforcement sector as a whole – is recognised as highly valuable by our international partners.

We can use international policing to promote UK prosperity and policing capability, with UK policing’s brand used to export our policing expertise. Not only will this increase capability in overseas states and organisations, it will also increase the skills of our own officers, who will bring their experiences back to UK forces and benefit local communities.”

Minister for Policing and Fire Service Brandon Lewis addresses UK police partners

Over 20 organisations participated in the event including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office, National Police Chiefs Council and the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, as well as representatives from national constabularies, the National Crime Agency, academic institutions and other bodies. Participants discussed the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in putting in place a cohesive and unified UK approach to international policing.

A significant element of UK international policing effort is in support of multilateral missions. Baroness Joyce Anelay, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations , also addressed the conference and highlighted the value of UK policing abroad:

“I am proud of the UK’s contribution to international policing. Our dedicated and professional personnel, often working in difficult conditions, set a high standard for others to follow. The UK Government is committed to making the international effort more effective and to strengthening the British contribution to international policing.”

Joint International Policing Hub

The JIPH operates off of the Stabilisation Unit platform and works to ensure that the UK has an international policing capability which is able to identify, prioritise, develop and deliver upon non-operational international policing requirements and requests. The JIPH is working to establish itself as the recognised gateway into and out of UK international policing assistance structures for domestic and global partners.