Iraqi Delegation Meets NI Policing Board

A UN/Iraqi delegation has met with members of the NI Policing Board.

They were in Belfast for a briefing on the transformation and progress in policing in Northern Ireland.

The delegation was made up of Iraqi MPs and politicians from the Kirkuk provincial administration alongside United Nation officials.

NI Policing Board Chair Elect, Barry Gilligan welcomed the visit saying: "The progress made in Northern Ireland remains of unique interest to countries throughout the world and Members of the Board were delighted to share experiences of how policing has evolved in Northern Ireland with the delegation.

"Discussions focused on the challenges faced in effecting the programme of change and the timeframe for delivery," he said.

Of particular interest was the development of a human rights and community focused approach to policing to ensure that the police service has the right people in the right place at the right time to deliver the best possible policing to all the people of Northern Ireland.

"We outlined the structures which have been put in place through which the Board holds the PSNI Chief Constable to account and how the DPPs deliver around the country," Mr Gilligan said.

"Policing is a central element of any democratic society and through its work the Board and the PSNI are committed to delivering for the people of Northern Ireland.

"We hope that the insight into the work of the Board will be of assistance to the delegation as they continue their own journey in implementing Iraq’s policing reform agenda."

Andrew Gilmour, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, who initiated this UN-sponsored visit said: "There are many areas of the successful Northern Ireland experience which have direct relevance to the province of Kirkuk, where ethnic tensions have reached worrying levels.

"One particular issue is that of police reform, and learning how the PSNI has become a truly unifying factor in Northern Ireland society is an especially important lesson for this Iraqi delegation," he commented.

(BMcC/JM)