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12.1  |  Security Sector Reform
1518.  A ‘Transitional Plan Update’ issued from Maysan on 27 December stated that the
proportion of recruits who had completed basic training had risen to 70.5 percent, in line
with the 2005 training target.1388
1519.  On 20 January 2006, Mr Tansley provided an update on the readiness of Maysan
for handover to Iraqi control.1389 It stated that the Iraqi Army was of “adequate standard”
though suffered from logistical issues; the DBE was “inadequate in size (7,000)” but
was “judged to be acting effectively”; and reform of the police was “going well” despite
a 100 percent growth in numbers (due to an MOI employment generation initiative) and
militia (mainly Badr) affiliation.
1520.  In his review of UK support to policing in Iraq on 31 January (described earlier in
this Section), Sir Ronnie Flanagan concluded that Maysan province should “be capable
of moving to Operational Overwatch at the earliest opportunity”.1390
1521.  On 28 February, Captain Richard John Holmes and Private Lee Ellis were killed
in an IED attack in a joint Snatch and Warrior vehicle convoy in al‑Amara.1391
1522.  At a meeting between MNF representatives and the Chief of Police on 2 March,
it was agreed that such attacks should not be seen as a way of prising the relationship
between the ISF and MNF apart.1392
1523.  The Chief of Police had also reported difficulties with the Head of the OMS in
Maysan who “wanted to commit acts of terror, but the Governor was trying to keep a lid
on the strife”. It was thought that extremist elements were “attempting to gain kudos and
standing in the community” by attacking the MNF.
1524.  Dr Howells visited Iraq in March. An FCO briefing pack for his meeting with the
Muthanna and Maysan Chiefs of Police stated that the proportion of trained police in
Maysan had increased to 86 percent.1393 Security conditions were “less favourable”
than in Muthanna but a continued coalition presence could be “counter‑productive”.
UK support for the province at this time comprised 17 ArmorGroup police advisers,
one police officer and one prison adviser.
1525.  The UK’s overall support was 95 police advisers in MND(SE) and Baghdad,
57 trainers in Jordan, six prison advisers, one justice adviser and three EU JustLex
courses. The US contribution was 247 police trainers Iraq‑wide, 66 JIPTC trainers,
70 prison advisers, and, justice advisers (no number given).
1388  Report, 27 December 2005, ‘Iraqi Police Service – Transitional Plan Update’.
1389  eGram 1266/06 Basra to FCO London, 20 January 2006, ‘Iraq: Military Transition in Maysan
and Muthanna’.
1390  Report Flanagan, 31 January 2006, ‘An Assessment of the UK’s Contribution to Security Sector
Reform (Policing) in Iraq’.
1391  GOV.UK, 1 March 2006, Captain Richard Holmes and Private Lee Ellis killed in Iraq; BBC News,
1 March 2006, Troops in Iraq blast named.
1392  Note MOD [junior officer], [undated], ‘Meeting with Maysaan Chief of Police – Thursday
2nd March 2006’.
1393  Minute Mortimer, March 2006, ‘Briefing for the Visit of the Muthanna and Maysan Chiefs of Police
to Dr Kim Howells, 6 March 2006, 17.00’.
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