ARTICLE - POLICE TRAINING - 23RD PROMOTION

THE 23RD PROMOTION OF THE POLICE SOON IN TRAINING
(Haiti Libre) -

The training of about 550 students of the 23rd promotion will begin in April 2012. This has been delayed for financial and administrative matters, but also because of disagreements between the National Police of Haiti, the Minustah and other stakeholders regarding the timing, duration of courses, and class size.

The recruitment of the 24th Promotion continues with the aim to reserve a 30% quota for women. The process of vetting all police officers resumed in September 2011, conducted by an integrated Haitian National Police and Minustah committee. 6,000 additional police officers should be trained by 2016; the end of the tenure of President Martelly.

"A number of challenges have impeded the pace of recruitment, vetting and training. These challenges include the need to restructure the recruitment system, to accelerate renovation or construction of facilities in order to expand training courses targeting middle-level and senior law enforcement officials, to increase budgetary resources to fund larger class sizes, more frequent training sessions, and to ensure that newly trained cadets receive their monthly salaries", indicated the Secretary General's report of the Minustah (ref: S.2012/128).

The construction of the police academy to train middle-level and senior police officials should be completed by 2013. Planning is under way to construct additional facilities for the Haitian National Police specialized units, including coastguard and public order units. The reduction in the authorized police strength of MINUSTAH to 3,241 officers will begin in March and should be completed by June 2012.

A new five-year Haitian National Police Development Plan 2012-2016 was drafted jointly, by the Haitian National Police and the Mission's police component, in consultation with all stakeholders. It is now awaiting final endorsement by the Haitian Government. The current strength of the Haitian National Police stands at 10,106 police officers, including 760 women.