OSCE Centre holds ethics training for police in Talas province of Kyrgyzstan

TALAS, Kyrgyzstan,15 September 2009 - A workshop on police behavior standards started in Talas with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek today.

The one-day workshop, led by three senior veterans of the Kyrgyz police force, is based on the Professional Ethics Code of Kyrgyz Police, in force since 27 February, and on international norms for police ethics.

Evgeny Cherenkov, the OSCE Centre's Police Reform Adviser said: "Observing ethical norms and principles ensure that police officers act in accordance with established rules."

"The professionalism and discipline of Kyrgyz police is important to the protection of human rights by police," said Shamshybek Mamyrov, the head of the Interior Ministry's Scientific Research Centre.

Similar training courses will also take place in the Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions. In total, some 380 police officers and 100 representatives from local authorities and members of public crime prevention centres will receive training. The workshops are also open for representatives of local prosecutor's offices, the court, media and non-governmental organizations as observers.

Similar courses have been held in the Chui province and Bishkek.

The workshops are held as part of the community policing project of the OSCE Centre's Police Reform Programme, jointly with the Interior Ministry's Scientific Research Centre. Following each workshop the trained policemen will have to pass a test to receive certification.