85 percent of police trained in southern Iraq, says UK

An average of 85 percent of the police force have been trained in three of the four provinces controlled by the British in southern Iraq, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has revealed.

But the percentage of trained officers varies from 56 percent in Basra to 99 percent in Muthanna, where UK troops are set to transfer responsible for security this month.

In Basra, 9,520 from a target of 16,298 police were said to have been trained. In Maysan, 3,521 from a target of 4,066 were trained, equivalent to 86 percent and in Muthanna, 1,907 from a target of 1,924.

Beckett said in a written parliamentary answer, published Wednesday, that milestones have been set in five areas against which progress of the Iraqi police service can be measured - the numbers trained, police support infrastructure, intelligence capability, operational capability and public support.

On the support infrastructure, she said communication and administrative practices are working effectively and an average of 85 percent of the vehicles, weapons and infrastructure that the force needs have been provided.

Beckett said that with regard to Basra, only 67 percent equipment had been issued and that "but progress in training and mentoring has been hampered by the security situation and non cooperation of the council." On intelligence Capability, she said forces have a criminal intelligence capability and are able to undertake intelligence led operations unaided, while in Basra investigators were still undergoing training.

Operational capability was said to have effective command with control systems in place. Liaison in Basra was improving with the setting up of a Permanent Joint Operations Centre but Beckett added that "investigative capability needs development." Regarding public support, she said there was more developed interaction with criminal justice system and media, improved human rights awareness, improving record of investigation and removal of corrupt or inefficient police.

No details were provided for he fourth province under British control, Dhi Qar, where responsibility for police training has been given to Italian troops.