I was getting more and more excited and anxious as the plane approached Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.  This was my first overseas deployment as a trainer for the International Academy, Bramshill, and my first visit to Africa.  When I left Hong Kong for the secondment at Bramshill last year, I could not have imagined that I would be given the privilege of this valuable opportunity.

The Tanzania Commanders' Programme is a 4-week bespoke course which seeks to enhance the leadership, management skills and operational proficiency of senior police leaders by sharing the UK experience and best practice. 

Initially, participants did not seem to be very comfortable with learning through discussion and feedback sessions.  However, as soon as they had developed a rapport, they enjoyed the exchange of ideas and the sparks of constructive debates which provided food for thought in improving police services in various aspects.  I understand that they were all heavily engaged and had to work very long hours in their positions, and they did treasure this occasion when they could sit back and reflect on what they had been doing and what they were going to do.  I was particularly impressed when they all came in early one day to carry on with the deliberation the day before in their own syndicates.  This speaks for their commitment and enthusiasm to the Programme.

The policing environment and challenges in Tanzania are very different to those in the UK or Hong Kong.  What have been working well in our experience does not necessarily apply in the Tanzanian context.  Nevertheless, the Programme should have stimulated the participants' thinking and better equipped them for taking forward the vision of reforming and modernising the police service.

It was also an excellent learning experience for me to deliver training in a completely new environment, and to interact and exchange with fellow police officers from a totally different background and experience.  The support of my colleagues Chief Superintendent George Cunningham and Detective Superintendent Alan Betts (Hampshire Constabulary), coupled with the Tanzanian hospitality, have made this a wonderful lifetime experience.  

Samson Cho, Fellowship Trainer from the Hong Kong Police