Monrovia – A four-week training for 148 Liberia National Police (LNP), including 9 females, closed today at the National Police Training Academy. The training was conducted by UNMIL’s Chinese Formed Police Unit (FPU) covered techniques in crowd control, vehicle search, weapons handling, VIP protection and maps reading.

 “I would like to acknowledge the progress made by LNP officers over the past months as seen during the demonstration and commend the hard work and professionalism of both China FPU officers and LNP counterparts, as the LNP proves to be progressing in its capacities,” said UNMIL Police Commissioner Simon Blatchly at the closing ceremony.

Commissioner Blatchly said that the cooperation between UNMIL and LNP FPUs could serve as a model to be used in other UN Missions. Further, Mr. Blatchly commended officers for demonstrating skills acquired from the UN Police (UNPOL) on community policing and conflict management during their deployment to recent electoral campaign events.

The Police Commissioner expressed confidence in the preparedness of the LNP to manage election security for a peaceful electoral process and transition of government.

Also present at the event were the Liberia’s Acting Inspector General of Police, Sadatu L.M. Reeves and the Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Zhang Yue.