Cablegate: Resumption of U.S.-Funded Police Training Program

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #0157 0350953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040952Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0133
INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO

UNCLAS CAIRO 000157

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DRL FOR POSNER
FOR NEA/ELA AND INL/AAE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EG
SUBJECT: RESUMPTION OF U.S.-FUNDED POLICE TRAINING PROGRAM REF: 09 CAIRO 1778; 09 CAIRO 1229; 09 CAIRO 892; 09 CAIRO 694 09 STATE 38378

1.(U) On February 1, the U.S.-funded, human rights-oriented police training program resumed, following its suspension in July 2008 pending bilateral negotiations related to the change in funding from ESF to INCLE (reftels). The February 1-3 three-day course focused on "Data-based Decision Making" to train officers to make decisions based on relevant information, as opposed to instinct. The course also emphasized the importance of engagement with local communities to gain their trust, with the goal of better serving the public and gathering crime data more effectively. The next training course is planned for March 23-25, and will focus on conforming to international policing standards. Subsequent courses are planned for May on interview and interrogation skills, July on appropriate use of force, and September on community policing.

2.(SBU) At the start of the course February 1, Interior Ministry State Security General Amr Al-Asr addressed the 24 assembled police officers, stressing the training's importance and encouraging the officers to interact with the program instructors. General Amr thanked the Embassy and the State Department, and underlined to the officers the importance of the U.S.-Egyptian strategic relationship. Officers participating in the training course are majors and lieutenant colonels, and are from the Interior Ministry (MOI) State Security Investigative Service, MOI public security, MOI anti-narcotics department, and MOI traffic department. The officers are stationed in Cairo and Alexandria, as well as a range of cities in the Delta and Upper Egypt. SCOBEY

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