From 23 March to 22 May 2009 I was offered the opportunity to complete a developmental attachment to the International Academy Bramshill (IAB). I have experience as a project manager and a police trainer. The opportunity came about due to a bi-lateral agreement between my force and the IAB to promote development experience opportunities between the staff and officers in Devon and Cornwall and the IAB. My attachment was the first to be arranged under this agreement. I became aware of the opportunity when I read a circulation to Chief Inspectors asking for a volunteer to work with the Middle East Desk at the Academy to assist in project management for police training in Qatar. My initial response of "Yes please! Can I start on Monday?" perhaps sums up my enthusiasm! I arrived at Bramshill and was allocated a bedsit for the duration of my stay - comfortable and private. I was immediately made welcome by the staff at the unit, who did their utmost to make me feel part of the team. I met Superintendent Kevin Smith who is the International Policing Advisor (IPA) covering the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) who explained that I would be covering parts of the role normally completed by him, but due to the substantial, and increasing, workload for the area he needed assistance. This first meeting reflected much of my contact with Kevin - quick face to face briefings and then contact by phone as we were rather like weather predicting dolls - as I came in one door he was off on another project deployment or back to his home force (Police Service of Northern Ireland). Later in my attachment it was the other way round - he was coming back as I was leaving on deployment! Despite this I felt well-briefed and sufficiently informed and skilled to be able to immediately start work; I now had a clearer understanding of life in the International Academy at Bramshill. On the admin support side there was Annmarie Ainsbury (MENA) and Silke Kirschner together with a friendly, cheerful team supporting the other IPAs and international assistance work that is undertaken by the unit. The senior managers in the unit made sure that I understood the aims and ethos of the Academy and how it fitted into the UK's international development and security assistance agenda. It was originally planned that my attachment would consist of following up initial enquiries about specific areas of training the Academy could offer to the MENA countries and arranging visits/training to meet their requirements. After about three weeks I became aware that a trainer was needed for three weeks of a four week course in leadership being run in Qatar. As I had the required skills and experience I was able to volunteer for this and spent the final three weeks of my attachment in Qatar. My initial concerns at training a leadership course and working with students who only spoke Arabic were somewhat allayed when I met the two trainers that I would be working with, for a pre-deployment briefing. Both are experienced trainers in the Middle East and retired police officers. One of them, had designed the course and prepared comprehensive trainer notes and course material. Their knowledge, support and professionalism were excellent and gave me a clear understanding of the importance of the associate team working on behalf of the Academy. The class consisted of 25 male officers of about Inspector rank (Captain and 1st Lieutenant) and two interpreters, together with two UK trainers. It was held at the Police Training Institute in Doha in an enormous classroom, allowing group work tables to be set up throughout the course as well as a plenary area. The classroom was well equipped and air conditioned. I was initially confused by the working hours. Class started at 0700 and ended at 1200, with one 30 minute and one 15 minute break. The weekend was on Friday and Saturday. The class soon acclimatised to me talking about lessons 'this afternoon' or on 'Friday' (when I meant Thursday) and quickly let me know that I would be on my own in the classroom at those times! Another of my concerns was working through interpreters. We had two interpreters in class almost all of the time. They were very competent and also willing to assist outside of the formal lessons. I missed the ease of being able to listen to group discussions and pick up on quick interjections and comments, but found generally that the sessions worked well and humour and understanding wasn't lost. Students invited us out. We were treated as VIPs at the Emir's Cup semi-final (football), camel racing and at a museum where we had a guided tour by the manager and saw extensive parts of the collection not generally open to the public. We also visited a traditional market. On my second weekend I was invited to an educational event at the Women's Islamic Centre, taken to a mosque and spent the evening with a group of Muslim women from the UK, Egypt and other countries and also joined a family for a meal. I was able to gain a much improved understanding of their views and feelings and of the Islamic culture and religion. Looking Ahead Whilst at Bramshill I met senior police officers from many different countries, including women on the International Commanders Leadership Programme, officers attending the International Strategic Leadership Programme and officers on a leadership course from Liberia. One of the Liberian women officers is the founder of a Women's Network in Liberia and I am now setting up a link to the Devon and Cornwall Women's Network, of which I am chair. I hope in the longer term we may be able to make beneficial developmental links for women in both police forces. I also was given a useful booklet in Qatar called 'Understanding Islam' and I hope to be able to get copies of this for staff and officers in my force to increase the understanding of the Islamic culture and religion to assist us in our work. I am working with the Devon and Cornwall Women's Network, Muslim women in policing and the Qatar Women's Islamic Education Centre to progress this. So to conclude: Kate Brookes
First Impressions
Qatar
Chief Inspector, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
