Training in humanitarian policing begins

PESHAWAR: A three-day capacity-building workshop on “Humanitarian Policing Practices under International Law” got underway on Tuesday.The Department of Criminology, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has organized the event.

Law enforcement officers from various regions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a special focus on those serving in the merged districts attended the workshop.The organisers said the primary theme of this training is to build the capacity of law enforcement officers engaged in fieldwork duties within merged districts.

Designed under the ICRC’s Police and Security Forces Programme mandate, the programme aspires to promote good policing practices in line with international law, encouraging officers to adopt and replicate these practices in their operational environments.

The training will feature lectures on key topics such as the use of force, arrest and detention, community-based policing, protection of vulnerable populations, and the code of conduct for law enforcement agencies.

The syndicate activities, including case study analysis and role-playing exercises, have been incorporated to enhance practical understanding and to help integrate humanitarian policing principles into police curriculum and practices.

On the first day, the session began with Asghar Marwat, Programme Manager, Police & Security Forces, ICRC. He gave a brief introduction to the ICRC’s global initiatives and its ongoing activities in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Basharat Hussain, Chairman, Department of Criminology, University of Peshawar, formally welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the department and its collaborative efforts with law enforcement agencies.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Department of Criminology, Law Enforcement Agencies, and the international community in fostering an environment of learning and mutual growth.