The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
passports,
citizenship and disaster relief and Mr Slocombe focused on the
development
of the
Iraqi Armed Forces.179
Mr Kerik’s
team at this stage comprised 12 people with an
additional
five consultants on short‑term assignments.
228.
A record of
the IPU’s SSR team’s visit to Iraq at the start of July
stated:
“Although
Kerik has a clear vision on his aspirations for a police force
there currently
appears to
be a lack of strategic direction for the whole of Iraq with his
focus firmly
on Baghdad.
That said it is understood that guidance has been given to the
regions
but they
have largely been left to fend for themselves. It is expected that
this will
change as
the international policing effort is established. Kerik offered
much praise
for the
efforts and progress made in the Basra area by UK
forces.” 180
229.
On 5 June,
Mr Straw sent a number of papers to Mr Blair including a
three‑page
policing
strategy produced by the UND.181
It
referenced the CPA’s assessment of 30 May
and
commented that, in the FCO’s view, the immediate objective was “to
stabilise the
security
situation by creating an effective interim police force with
international civilian
police
working alongside Iraqi police and Coalition military
forces”.
230.
The strategy
stated that the longer‑term objective was “to establish an
effective,
viable and
sustainable police force within a fully functioning security
sector”. The initial
response
would be deployment of “an armed International Police Monitoring
Force …
to Baghdad
and Basra, to conduct joint patrols with the current Iraqi police
force and
Coalition
military” requiring 3,000 armed police officers. Once the Iraqi
police were
considered
to have received sufficient initial training, the international
presence would
have a
longer‑term training focus, eventually taking on a mentoring
role.
231.
The UND paper
suggested the following timetable:
“•
By 14 June:
CPA/Coalition agree strategy for reforming Iraq Police
Force
[to include
a decision on the model of police force required];
•
By 21 June:
Appointment of Police Commissioner to implement
strategy;
•
By 30 June:
Police Contributors conference;
•
By 14
August: Infrastructure in place for international police
monitoring/
mentoring
force (IPMF);
•
By 31
August: Arrival of international police force (IPMF)
personnel.”
179
Minute Lowe
[MOD], 9 July 2003, ‘Visit Report – IPU Security Sector Reform Team
Visit to Baghdad
4‑7 July’.
180
Minute Lowe
[MOD], 9 July 2003, ‘Visit Report – IPU Security Sector Reform Team
Visit to Baghdad
4‑7 July’.
181
Minute
Straw to Blair, 5 June 2003, ‘Iraq: Winning the Peace’ attaching
Paper UND, 3 June 2003,
‘Iraq: Security
Sector Reform: Policing Strategy’.
108