UK ambassador launches training for ‘community police assistants’ in camps

AMMAN — British Ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden launched on Thursday the “first” training course for community police assistants at Azraq and Zaatari camps, the British embassy said in a statement.

This development comes as part of the embassy’s partnership with the Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate to support Jordan by helping provide security for refugees.

The arrival of 80 new staff members, part funded by the British embassy and part by the Dutch embassy, will allow the community police to carry out more foot patrols and address issues in the communities by working in partnership with residents and NGOs, the statement said.

Oakden stressed the UK’s partnership with Jordan in improving fields like community policing for the security of Syrian refugees, as well as providing job opportunities for Jordanians. Since 2013, the British embassy’s policing support team has supported the establishment of community police stations at both Azraq and Zaatari camps.