Afghan police training reaping rewards 16.10.12

More than a year after Afghan forces in Lashkar Gah took control of security there are said to have been huge improvements in the Afghan National Police force. The part military, part civilian Provincial Reconstruction Team has also been working with the Afghan Uniformed Police, now a major focus to ensure they can run their own training programmes by the time ISAF troops leave. Building trust in the local community is key. In 2009 the PRT set up an anonymous Crimestoppers free phone line for Afghans and there are plans to make it country wide. This a police force that knows it has to develop quickly but personnel like Captain Namatullha Mail, an AUP Guard Segeant Major, are keen. He said: "We have had the training from ISAF and now we have confidence that when ISAF leave Afghanistan we will be able to take care of our duties ourselves." Until then the PRT will slowly be stepping back as the AUP work to reassure their local communities that they can keep them safe.