By: Kebba AF Touray
A three week training on ‘Special Intervention Course’ for 40 officers of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), Thursday ended at the Police Intervention Unit Headquarters in Kanifing.
The 4th edition of the training was organized by the Police High Command in collaboration with the German Police Support Team (GPST) in The Gambia.
After the sweaty and strenuous weeks, the participants were on the 26th of May, 2022, awarded with certificates of completion and a badge that distinguishes them as Special Intervention Unit personnel (SIU) of the PIU.
According to the instructors, the essence of the training was for the officers of the PIU to be able to act comprehensively and efficiently, especially in violent demonstrations, while maintaining democratic principles.
Speaking earlier, Steffen Haas, the Coordinator of the Training, said among the 40 officers were three females who participated in the intensive training.
The GPST official explained that during this training, which is preceded by an aptitude test, the participants were trained on numerous skills and tactics that are used by the police in Germany; that trainings on protection and escort of peaceful demonstrators, proceedings against violent groups, self-defense and arresting of individuals were all dealt with.
The Commissioner of the PIU, Adeline Basangeh, praised the good cooperation between the police of Baden-Württemberg and The Gambia, as well as the discipline of all participating police officers.
He emphasized the importance of respecting national and international rights in order to live up to democratic principles.
The GPST announced that during the second half of 2022, 80 selected SIU members will have the opportunity to take part in a new training course, ranging from Raids, Searches and Preservation of Evidence amongst other specialized skills.
The German Police Support Team in The Gambia is a bilateral development aid capacity-building project, framed by a joint Declaration of Intent between the Ministries of Interior of the Republic of The Gambia and the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg.
Implementing partner agencies are the Gambia Police Force and the Baden-Württemberg State Police and since 2018, the project has aimed to build capacity and professionalize the Gambia Police Force.
