Sarajevo, 11 October 2013 - Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH is in charge of providing an overall security arrangement for the VIP and Facilities Protection in BiH. The continuous education and capacity building of its Sector for Protection of VIP and Facilities is therefore very important, as they have to regularly adopt the latest practices and excel their techniques and skills.
To assist in professional development and training needs, the Twinning Project has organized a three-day consultancy meeting for the relevant members of this Sector to address the development of a curriculum for the training of VIP protection officers with Ad Casteleijn, Team Leader in Central Protection and Security Division of the Dutch Police and Frans van der Poel, Coordinator for VIP Protection Training at the Police Academy Ossendrecht.
“One must realize that protection of VIPs is not seen as priority in most countries. However this particular element of the police forces anywhere in the world represents crucial part when it comes to police professionalism and image. This is an added burden but also a privilege. As threats are becoming more and more sophisticated, professional close protection is needed more than ever to ensure the safety of VIPs under threat. A curriculum which can offer the most current and up to date techniques and strategies that are tested, proven and updated continuously allow to deal with the new trend of threats more readily,“ said Casteleijn.
In scope of the visit to BiH, Casteleijn and van der Poel visited the state-level Agency for Education and Professional Training in Mostar and met with Elvir Velić, Assistant Director for Training.
“We provided BiH colleagues with an insight into the content of the curriculum developed in line with the best European practices and exchange our own experiences regarding the implementation. We found excellent potential and resources in the Agency to successfully implement any type of training that we are providing in the Netherlands. All of this will be used in preparing a model of curriculum which will best serve the needs of BiH,” said van der Poel.
The expert team will prepare draft curriculum based on required competencies of a protection officer who is to function appropriately under the most stressful conditions - using the most effective techniques and tactics with determination and situation.
The training programme was organized in scope of the ongoing Twinning Project “Support to the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies in BiH” aimed at enhancing Directorate’s capacities and capabilities for VIP and Facilities Protection.