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Scottish cops to help MW prepare for polls

Flashback: Police restoring peace during the 2013 January protests
Flashback: Police restoring peace during the 2013 January protests

Scottish police officers were expected in the country to share their expertise on tackling public disorder as part of a British government-backed programme ahead of the 2014 tripartite elections.

The programme will see nine serving and former officers to help police support general elections in 2014 that are free, fair and trouble-free. Those deployed on Saturday are Superintendent Thom McLoughlin, Inspector Graham Miller and Allen Jones.

In a press statement on Thursday, the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Scottish office announced a training that will involve three Scottish police, including one former officer who served for 17 years in Northern Ireland.

The DfID-backed programme will involve training at least 300 Malawi Police officers in public order management, and will improve their response to crime and insecurity as well as their ability to tackle public disorder.

Malawi Police Service (MPS) deputy national spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa confirmed the training, but could not give further details.

The statement from DfID and Scottish office said officers from Police Scotland will head up part of the Malawi Policing Improvement Programme (Mpip), backed by DfID, to enable the local police better address public order issues after riots in 2011 saw 20 people shot dead.

Secretary of State for International Development Justine Greening said: “Security has a major role to play in Malawi’s much-needed economic recovery, and MPS plays a vital part in this.”

The UK will provide up to £3 million (K1.62 billion) over 2 years (June 2013 to July 2015) to support the MPS to improve responsiveness and accountability.

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