Shorter Visits ISF Academy, Inaugurates New CCTV Control Room

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter and Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman on Friday co-chaired the 'Strategic Project Management Committee' to discuss the British Policing Support Project (BPSP) with Lebanon, the British Embassy in Beirut said.

The meeting was an opportunity to “review ISF activity and the plan to transform policing across Beirut, discuss human rights and policing standards, and discuss the progress made on the ISF’s new Strategic Plan – a comprehensive plan to reform the police, over the next 5 years,” the Embassy added in a statement.

The meeting took place at Aramoun Internal Security Forces Academy and was followed by a live simulated exercise at the training village where a state of the art CCTV system has been installed.

The new system will help members of ISF review their training using scenario based training exercises, by putting the theory into operational practice in a safe environment. The aim is to support the ISF Academy in improving police standards across the whole of Lebanon.

The Strategic Project Management Committee “provides effective strategic governance and oversees timely project implementation of the UK’s £13m support plan to the ISF,” the Embassy said.

After the meeting, Ambassador Shorter said: “We fully support the vision of General Othman to reform and transform the ISF into a modern and trusted police force. Today’s live exercise demonstrates the capabilities of the police force and the ambition to deliver a pioneering police service that promotes trust, respects human rights, and safeguards freedoms in accordance with Lebanese law and in partnership with the community.”

“The UK supports the ISF training at Aramoun village to transform the knowledge in the classroom to real life operations on city streets. I am very pleased that the British Policing Support Project (BPSP) is able to offer the CCTV system for training purposes. There is much more UK support to discuss and announce in the next few months,” Shorter added.