Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Britain has launched a program to train thousands of police
officers in Libya.

Officials said Britain has approved a program to train at least 4,000
Libyan officers. They said the program would include the renovation of the
police training academy in the North African state.

“A police force capable of delivering results and holding the people’s
trust is at the heart of realizing a Libya that is more stable, more
democratic and more accountable to its citizens,” British International
Development Minister Alan Duncan said.

In a visit to Tripoli on April 16, Duncan said 4,000 Libyans a year
would be trained as police officers. He said the government of British Prime Minister David Cameron would upgrade a police academy in Tripoli in which 500 recruits at a time would undergo six-week training courses.

Officials did not cite the cost of the Libyan training program. They
said London has determined that Libya could not restore stability and return British contractors without disbanding rebel militias and the establishing a credible military and security force.

“As we have seen, where the police aren’t able to enforce the rule of
law and provide security then armed militia groups emerge — untrained,
unaccountable and creating a very real risk to the public they purport to
protect,” Duncan said.

  000 Libyan police, Alan Duncan, Britain to train 4, David Cameron