Who, how and where? Call for parliamentary inquiry into Scottish force’s global training after Sri Lankan contract halted
Police Scotland finally end training contract with Sri Lankan force accused of human rights abuses
All training sold by Police Scotland to forces around the world must now be investigated and approved by Holyrood, according to MSPs.
The demand for a parliamentary inquiry into the services and international clients of the national force comes after Chief Constable
Iain Livingston confirmed a controversial Sri Lankan training contract would end.
The announcement came after The Sunday Post had revealed the concern of a leading human rights lawyer and UN Rapporteur and the testimony of torture victims who had been raped, beaten and asphyxiated by Sri Lankan police and security forces. They accused Police Scotland of being naive in continuing to train Sri Lankan officers despite damning UN reports into human rights abuses in the country. Campaigners said the national force was giving credibility to an administration linked to violence, torture and disappearances.
The Scots force had, however, defended the training programme, which saw some of Sri Lanka’s highest-ranking police
officers, including several accused of human rights abuses, attend the Tulliallan police college in Kincardine, Fife.
Critics say there is a lack of transparency around the services provided and the revenue generated by the force’s international training operation. The work with Sri Lanka is thought to have generated more than £700,000 over 10 years and the force only renewed
the rolling contract in January, when Chief Superintendent David
Duncan said: “Police Scotland’s work in Sri Lanka is underpinned by a human rights approach.
“It supports the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly gender equality, reduced equality, peace and justice, strong institutions and partnerships to achieve goals.”
However, on Wednesday,
Livingstone told the Scottish Police Authority that the force had decided “not to seek to renew our engagement”.
Scottish Conservative shadow social justice secretary Miles Briggs said: “Given the deepening concern, Police Scotland have reached the correct decision to end their involvement with Sri Lanka. However, I believe there’s still a need for the Scottish Parliament to hold an inquiry into why this contract continued for so long, what effect Police Scotland’s involvement had on the behaviour of the police and special forces in Sri Lanka, and what involvement they have in other countries with concerning histories of torture and human rights abuse.
“The harrowing testimony of
victims who have sought shelter in Scotland cannot be ignored. We have a responsibility to ensure their evidence is taken and pursued through the international courts if possible.
“In future, I believe it is more appropriate that politicians decide where our national police force collaborate and train in other countries, not Police Scotland.”
In recent years the force has been involved in training in Anguilla, Cayman Islands, India, Malawi, Namibia, Pakistan and Zambia.
In Sri Lanka, official investigators found evidence young men and women from the minority Tamil community were kidnapped from the streets by police and special forces and tortured, including being hung from their arms or ankles, beaten and abused for days on end.
UN Special Rapporteur Professor Manfred Nowak told The Sunday Post last month Police Scotland should “step away from the contract”. Nowak also called for a Holyrood inquiry into the claims against Sri Lankan officers.
He said: “These allegations must be investigated and those responsible prosecuted and brought before the international courts if Sri Lanka does not co-operate.”
In May the programme was suspended while it was reviewed by the Foreign Office and, on Tuesday, a report from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office named Sri Lanka among 31 countries around the world where it had particular concerns around human rights issues.
Police Scotland insists their training programmes raise the standard of policing around the world and, in July, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon formally opened the force’s new International Academy at Tulliallan.
She said: “Police Scotland rightly has a strong international reputation for delivering excellent training overseas and in Scotland, exemplified by its partnerships with organisations and forces around the world.”
Last week Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: “Police Scotland seeks to make optimum use of its own capability and resources, ensuring they are best directed where they can be most effective and create a positive, lasting contribution.
“We are keen to continue to support Conflict, Stability and Security Funded programmes of work delivered across the world by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and focus on efforts to prevent harm at source while stabilising communities beyond our boundaries by innovating and sharing best practice.”