Police birds of a feather
Cross-border ‘marriage’ of Ireland’s police colleges
20/06/2005 15:38:11
Co-operation between police forces on both sides of the Irish border received a major boost today with the signing of an agreement for the respective training colleges to work together.
The Head of An Garda Siochana Police College, Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann and Acting Chief Superintendent David Nairn, Acting Head of Police College of Northern Ireland, signed a document, which provides a framework for both colleges to share their resources and expertise.
Acting Chief Supt Nairn said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was a significant milestone in the history of the two colleges.
“Sharing of skills and resources will ensure the continual development of our staff and will allow us to build bridges of co-operation so vital to professional policing in Ireland, north and south,” he said.
The MOU aims to ensure issues of mutual interest and benefit to both police services are jointly progressed.
Chief Supt McGann said the signing of the document was a very important development for both police services.
“By pooling our resources of knowledge and expertise in this way, we can achieve the best possible results for the communities we serve,” he added.
The MOU will serve as the basis for future activity between the police colleges, and will result in:
:: Sharing of materials in the development of training courses,
:: Sharing experiences and expertise in the delivery of training courses and other training events,
:: Joint training and learning seminars, conferences and meetings to spread good practice and knowledge,
:: Organising a joint Leadership and Problem Solving Grid programme,
:: The provision of a student award to a top student of each partner police college,
:: The introduction of a trainer exchange programme between the colleges.
The MOU also supports the European Union Peace and Reconciliation Project on Diversity Training by providing resources and sharing of good practice.
