Baghdad mission for police chief

The officers will oversee reformed policing in Iraq

Two UK police chiefs are helping to rebuild Iraq's police force, the Foreign Office revealed on Sunday.

Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) Douglas Brand, of South Yorkshire Police travelled to Iraq on 4 July to act as senior mentor to the Iraqi chief of Baghdad Police.

He has been joined by Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who will work as senior police adviser in Basra.

The Foreign Office said that both were selected for their knowledge of reform and retraining in police services.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the deployment was a further example of "the UK delivering on our promise to help Iraqis build for themselves a stable, free and prosperous Iraq".

He added: "The rule of law is of paramount importance to the people of Iraq.

"We recognise this and are committed to ensuring that Iraqis can enjoy the benefits that the rule of law brings."

Mr Brand previously headed the Metropolitan Police Public Order Training Centre where he was responsible for training Met officers in public order command skills.

Iraqi Police have been working with occupying forces

Mr White was programme director of the Change Management Team responsible for planning and monitoring the changes proposed by the Patten report, the International Independent Commission on policing in Northern Ireland.

In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the changes in police structures and for developing training courses and methods to underpin organisational change.

It will be his job to assist and advise the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) on the training of the new Iraqi police force.

Speaking before his departure, Mr White said: "This is a big challenge, but one I relish.

"It is an opportunity for UK police officers to pass on our experience of professional policing in difficult circumstances.

"Police reform and the move towards a more democratic policing regime will take time, determination and persistence."