Croatian police officers to train with British "Bobbies"

ZAGREB, 16 February 2004 - Two Croatian police officers have yesterday travelled to the UK for a one-week visit to learn about community policing techniques. The visit is organised by the OSCE Mission to Croatia, the British Embassy Zagreb and the Sussex Police Force, in co-operation with the Croatian Ministry of the Interior.

Croatian police officers Silvio Bratkovic and Marijan Zuvljevic from the training department of the Police Academy in Zagreb will use their UK experience to help train colleagues for community policing work.

During their stay in the UK they will shadow British police officers, "Bobbies," on their beat and learn about new training methods and partnerships at New Scotland Yard.

British Ambassador to Croatia, Nicholas Jarrold, noted the excellent co-operation between the British and Croatian police forces.

"This programme is an example of how the Croatian authorities, the OSCE and British Government are working together to bring European standards to the Croatian Police Force," he said.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby, explained the visit was the third of its kind facilitated by the Mission and its international partners in support of community policing in Croatia.

"I am sure the project will bring long term benefits to Croatian Police and its society," Ambassador Semneby said.

"The Croatian Police appreciate the support that the OSCE and British Embassy are giving to us by such a visit. By enabling our two police officers to experience policing in the UK it can help us in our aim of achieving European Police Standards," said the Head of the Croatian Police Administration.

This visit is in support of the Interior Ministry's Community Policing Strategy, which is part of a wider programme of police reform supported by the OSCE Mission and the British Government.