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Policing and justice

• Why is the UK involved?
• What are the current challenges?
• Progress so far in Afghanistan
• Where does the UK fit in to policing and justice?

Why is the UK involved?

Legitimate policing and justice is essential for long term security and peace in Afghanistan. With Afghan and international partners, the UK is playing a key role helping the country develop its police force, legal system and prisons sector.

The people of Afghanistan highlight security and justice as two of their main priorities, but the current system is often not able to deliver. This has a bearing on the Afghan public’s confidence in the ability of their Government. As such, the Taleban have sought to set themselves up as alternative security and justice providers, often offering their own brutal forms of justice.

The Afghan police must be capable enough to prevent criminal activity, and the justice sector able to prosecute, convict and punish those involved in all forms of crime, particularly terrorism, corruption and the drugs trade. Without this, there will not be a credible deterrent to stop people from engaging in illegal activity and Afghan communities will not have a convincing reason to back the Government against the insurgency. Law and order will help ensure that security gains are sustainable.

What are the current challenges for policing and justice in Afghanistan?

Decades of war have meant that policing and justice in Afghanistan started from a low base. Their justice system suffers from years of under-investment, a shortage of skilled professionals such as lawyers, prosecutors and judges, threats to its security and corruption. Further support is needed to build courts, train legal professionals, improve the security and safety of the prison sector and develop rehabilitation programmes.

Community based justice is a feature of Afghan life and is a highly credible and trusted system for the majority of Afghans, especially in remote rural areas. It will continue to play an important role in resolving disputes at the local level, as the reach and capacity of the statutory justice sector expands.

Great strides have been made in growing the size of the Afghan police force, which now stands at over 140,000. But due to the security situation in much of Afghanistan, police training efforts have necessarily focused on developing the skills required for police to provide basic security and protect their communities. The next step is to develop more advanced civilian policing skills, such as the ability to investigate crime and gather evidence to be used in court. Such work is already being delivered by UK police officers in Helmand and Kabul.

Progress so far in Afghanistan

The Afghan Government now has a clearer strategy for developing its police force, having published its National Police Strategy in March 2011. The central Ministry of Interior has taken a strong stance against corruption, ensuring allegations are investigated by mobile and independent anti-corruption teams.

Afghanistan continues to pose challenges, but progress is being made across the rule of law sector: the Criminal Justice Task Force has secured over 1000 convictions for narcotics offences since it was established in 2005; the number of legal professionals in Afghanistan is growing; new prison buildings and refurbishment has raised standards of detention; and pay and grading reform has been completed for prison officers.

Where does the UK fit in to policing and justice?

The UK supports Afghan policing and justice at all levels, our contribution being part of a wider international effort. Whilst a significant part of our effort is focused on Helmand, where our military forces are based, we are also involved in work that will improve policing and justice across Afghanistan as a whole.
Our comprehensive approach includes using the expertise of a wide range of British Government Departments and agencies.

Afghan police development is a key area for the UK.

• We contribute to both the NATO and EU Police Missions in Afghanistan.
• We have over 35 UK civilian police officers in Kabul and Helmand, as well as hundreds of British military personnel training, mentoring and advising the Afghan police.
• We are involved with efforts to tackle corruption within the police and are leading the work of the new police leadership college in Kabul.
• We support the costs of police salaries, contributing £8m in 2011/12.
• In April 2011 we started a programme of support to the central Ministry of Interior, led by the Department of International Development.

The UK also supports the development of the justice and prisons sector.

• We provide funding, specialist mentors and administrative support to the Criminal Justice Task Force which targets the narcotics trade.
• We provide prosecution mentors to the Attorney General’s Anti-Terrorism Department and Anti-Corruption Unit.
• We promote the development of a safe and secure prison sector by training and mentoring prison officers and by building detention facilities which meet international standards.
• In Helmand, we are building a new prison to hold 1000 prison spaces, a female facility, health care, a kitchen, rehabilitation programmes and a fit for purpose juvenile facility.

Useful links

• European Union Police Missions
• Nato
• Transparency International
• Stabilistation Unit