OSCE Skopje Mission helps border police officers develop management skills

SKOPJE, 26 May 2006 - Thirty-six border police officers took part in a management training course that ended today at the Police Academy in Skopje.

Organized by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, it was part of a series of courses which included both theory and practical training in the field.

Interior Ministry experts and OSCE Mission Police Instructors offered classes on forged documents, drugs, auto crimes and fingerprint techniques, crime scene management, filing of reports and modern policing methods.

"The ability to carry out in-service training independently is essential for the growth of any structure," said Philip Tolson, Head of the Mission's Police Development Unit, at the graduation ceremony. "The OSCE Mission is pleased to see the growing capacity of the border police and the increased professionalism of their staff."

Rade Jankovski, Chief General Inspector of the Interior Ministry's Border Police Department, added: "The co-operation with the OSCE Mission has enhanced our capacity to understand and develop an integrated management approach in our service. These courses have also taught us how to run successful in-house training."