OSCE Mission to Skopje supports study tour to Turkey for Interior Ministry experts

SKOPJE, 15 February 2008 - Interior Ministry officials completed today a study tour to Ankara to learn about crime scene investigation techniques from their Turkish counterparts.

Twelve criminal police experts participated in three OSCE Mission-supported study visits, designed to improve their knowledge and practical skills in gathering, preserving, analyzing and reporting evidence.

Philip Tolson, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje's Police Development Department, said that the visits helped further the already existing co-operation between police of the two countries: "This study tour is one more step towards strengthening the professional capacity of the local police, and it contributes to effective regional co-operation and co-ordination."

The Turkish police shared their experiences in setting up national offices where evidence is collected and analyzed, which increases the efficiency of efforts to combat organized crime.

Ismail Cebi, the Head of Criminal and Technical Investigation Training Division within the Turkish National Police, which hosted the training, said: "Learning about current crime scene investigation tactics and technologies is vital, and we hope that this comprehensive training programme was useful for our colleagues from Skopje."

He added that a follow-up study evaluation visit is planned for the future.

The training was organized by the General Directorate of the Turkish National Police and the Turkish International Co-operation and Development Administration, and supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the Interior Ministry.