12.1 |
Security Sector Reform
465.
The following
day, DCC White wrote to a junior official in the FCO’s Iraq
Security
Sector
Unit, to summarise his understanding of the position in MND(SE)
ahead of a
briefing
with Sir Jeremy Greenstock and Sir Hilary
Synnott:
“… I would
like to be able to tell them that I have been updated by FCO in
relation
to: my
resource bids other than training staff (I am assuming they are not
being
addressed);
MDP [MOD police] deployments to Basra (I am assuming they are
not
being
deployed); training staff requests for mid October (I am certain
they are not
being met);
and training staff requests for Nov/Dec (it appears they are not
likely
466.
He summed up
by saying:
“Those of
us on the ground are finding it difficult to fully understand what
the main
issues of
the debate are regarding the deployment or otherwise of UK
civpol.”
467.
Upon receiving
those emails, CC Kernaghan wrote to the Home Office to clarify
the
ACPO
position.411
He made
clear that there were “no outstanding requests with
ACPO,
nor have
any been refused to date”. He stated that current delays were due
to a lack
of firearms
training and that deployment without such training would require a
“clear
statement
from the Home Office that such a move was seen as desirable”. He
also said
that he had
“no doubt” that the FCO’s International Policing Unit could
expedite selection
and
training if directed. He concluded by saying:
“In
essence, the FCO, with the support of allied departments and
agencies, needs
to provide
quicker and more authoritative feedback to DB & SW [DCCs
Brand
and White].”
468.
On 4 October,
Ms Clwyd asked Mr Straw in a House of Commons
debate
when he
intended to “strengthen the number of British advisers and support
staff”.
Mr Straw
responded, saying that he intended to investigate the matter and
that it was
his
understanding that “from this week, DCC White will be supported in
his role by
six Ministry
of Defence police officers”.412
469.
Six MOD police
officers were deployed to Baghdad in October.413
470.
The potential
availability of PSNI officers for deployment was discussed in
a
meeting
between DCC White and Mr Bill Rammell, FCO
Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State,
based upon informal discussions between DCC White and
Mr Hugh Orde,
Chief
Constable of the PSNI.414
The Iraq
Security Sector Unit (ISSU) note stated that
their
decision not to approach the Northern Ireland Office had been based
on a letter
410
Email White
to UND [junior official], 21 September 2003, ‘Re: Police Training
plan’.
411
Email
Kernaghan to Home Office [junior official], 22 September 2003,
‘Iraq – Recent Developments’.
412
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 4 October
2003, column 9.
413
Letter Lee
to Clarke, 18 February 2004, ‘Deployment of MDP Officers to
Iraq’.
414
Minute FCO
[junior official] to PS/SofS [FCO], 4 November 2003, ‘Iraq
Policing’.
159