the process of security sector reform - ISAC Fund

Robert S. Tomasovic PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS
Robert S. Tomasovic PEACE KEEPING MISSIONS
Kosovo – 4700 Civilian Police are there to maintain law and order while developing
a new police service for the area. This was the first UN mission where
International police were tasked with full executive (law enforcement) authority.
East Timor - The Civilian Police there maintained law and order until the establishment
of a credible and professional national police service.
Bosnia & Herzegovina – More than 1800 police officers from 45 different
countries carried out tasks relating to human rights investigations, monitoring of
local police and restructuring local police services. That mission and its police
responsibilities have devolved to a European Union Police Mission.
In United Nations missions Civilian Police officers may be armed or unarmed
depending on the mandate of their mission. In the majority of missions, Civilian
Police officers are unarmed. There is also a decision as to giving Civilian Police
enforcement or non-enforcement authority declared in the UN mandate. In only
a few missions Civilian Police have been given full executive authority and
perform as a police force in the mission. In those cases where they have executive
authority they are also charged with the responsibility to establish a local police
force. In most missions the role of Civilian Police does not involve the authority
to take enforcement actions but rather they monitor, advise, train and liaise with
the local police. Variations involve non-enforcement types of missions with
armed Civilian Police who carry weapons for self-protection only.
The UN Civilian Police Division (Department of Peacekeeping Operations)
goals are to:
• Support the Civilian Police component of the UN peace operations
• Enhance planning capacity of police component of UN operations
• Assist in enhancing the performance, effectiveness and efficiency of
local criminal justice systems
• Enhance the ability to deploy a functional police component rapidly
• Improve the quality of Civilian Police representation in the field
The European police best practice vs. traditional (classic) policing is the construct
under which UN Civilian Police officers work. This model is characterized by:
• Despecialization vs. specialization, training most modern police forces
as generalist, thus providing an economy of effort. This decentralized
vs. centralized approach allows an emphasis on Community Oriented
Policing; allowing police forces today to establish small stations within
communities, in so doing, the force is better able to work with residents.
• Bottom up management vs. top down autocratic management since the
complexities of police work today requires that street officers participate
as equal partners with management in the decision making process. This
allows them to add value to the process and the outcome.
Community policing vs. government policing; increasing the efficacy of the
police is directly related to their ability to harness the community in establishing
a safe and secure environment…meaning the police can no longer just perceive
themselves as an organ of the State and implementers of the government’s will.
Service-oriented vs. enforcement-oriented police, meaning that today’s police
forces don’t just enforce laws; they must be responsive to public demands.
There are two traditional measurements of how democratically a police force
operates. First they are responsive to the needs and desires of the public they
serve and such forces listen to and consider the concerns of the community.
Second, they are accountable within the rule of law and people who feel agrieved
by police actions have a vehicle of redress established in a manner that ensures
due process
Finally, in regards to Civilian Police, military PKO troops must be helped to
understand that they are not in charge, they do not “own” their AO − they share
responsibility and authority with a variety of civilian institutions, agencies, and
groups. If the military take over and insist on running things, civilians either
cannot or may see no need to assume the responsibilities they will ultimately
have to assume in order to form or rebuild a sustainable sovereign country.
CIVILIAN ACTORS IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
All participants must recognize that it is civilian authorities/politicians who
authorize peacekeeping operations; whether this is UNSC, EU, African Union,
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