OSCE training in Turkey focuses on detecting forged travel documents
ISTANBUL, 12 May 2014 – An advanced training course for Turkish border guards aimed at further enhancing their skills in detecting forged travel documents started in Istanbul today.
The training session is the second and final in a series of courses which aim to deepen the knowledge of 40 border control officers about the latest forgery methods and ways to detect them. Participants will also have an opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues from Turkey and Austria.
“Terrorists and other criminals use forged documents to move goods and persons across borders,” said Matthias Draxler, the trainer. “Effective passport checks are vital to counter transnational threats such as terrorism, and organized crime of trafficking.”
Ben Hiller from the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, said: “The latest generation of electronic passports are speeding up controls and offer a higher degree of security. Technology is not foolproof. Officers need skills and information on the latest security features of travel documents to effectively detect individuals crossing borders with forged documents.”
A key focus of the interactive sessions will be on the manufacturing processes of travel documents as well as the growing number of security features on travel documents that are being offered.
The courses are organized by the OSCE Secretariat's Transnational Threats Department/Action against Terrorism Unit (TNT/ATU) in co-operation with United States European Command (EUCOM). They are conducted by two document advisors from the Austrian Interior Ministry.