16/04/2003

Local officers may help police post-war Iraq

Prime minister Tony Blair has said that the Government is contemplating using ex-RUC officers to assist with the Coalition's plans for policing in Iraq.

Ulster Unionist Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson asked if Mr Blair is considering drawing on the expertise of police officers from Northern Ireland or those RUC officers who had taken early retirement.

In response the prime minister said: "The Defence Secretary (Geoff Hoon) tells me that representatives of our UK police have gone out to Iraq to see what assistance we can give. Obviously, former members of the RUC, for very obvious reasons, have particular expertise."

Congratulating the Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Guards "on performing quite superbly in Iraq" Mr Blair also agreed that the Coalition should indeed "look at using retired RUC officers."

(MB)

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