President Wavel Ramkalawan attended the closing ceremony of the three-year UK-Seychelles Modernisation Partnership Programme between the Seychelles Police Force and the British High Commission. The event took place yesterday afternoon at Eden Bleu, marking the culmination of a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing law enforcement capabilities in Seychelles.

Launched in 2021, the programme benefited from the expertise of three distinguished former senior members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland: Former Chief Constable Sir George Hamilton QPM, Former Head of Counter Corruption Philip Knox, and Former Detective Chief Superintendent Raymond Murray QPM. The initiative has significantly bolstered the leadership and strategic acumen of the Seychelles Police Force, fostering more effective decision-making and operational efficiency.

In his address, the British High Commissioner H.E Mr. Jeffrey Glekin highlighted the programme's role in laying the groundwork for a safer and more just Seychelles, setting the stage for a modernized police force. "Transformative change requires courage, commitment and time," he remarked. The Strategic Review conducted during the programme enabled the Police Force to identify key challenges and opportunities, equipping participants with "new thinking skills and higher levels of professionalism."

"Policing is not just about crime prevention," the High Commissioner noted. "It's about stability and the kind of society we want for future generations. A police force reflects the community it serves, and when we strengthen the force, we strengthen the nation."

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Errol Fonseka, expressed profound appreciation for the productive UK-Seychelles partnership, underscoring its value in areas such as cybersecurity and border control management. He reiterated the necessity of equipping law enforcement with the requisite skills to uphold law and order as a safeguard against social decay and rising crime rates.

"Law and order today requires that we not only tackle criminality directly, but also monitor its determinants and structure our responses in a multifaceted, multi-dimensional and well-coordinated manner," the Minister explained.

Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe acknowledged the transformative impact of the Strategic Review conducted in June 2022 and the subsequent Seychelles Police Strategic Plan 2023-2025. He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the implementation and review of the plan.

"We are simply instruments of change, agents of transformation, and devoted servants of our cherished Seychelles," the Commissioner stated. "The true beneficiaries are the people of Seychelles who experience enhanced safety, improved quality of life, and greater community cohesion."

Superintendent Jemmy Bouzin presented key achievements of the programme and outlined steps to ensure its continuity while advancing towards a modernized and more efficient police force. The programme’s accomplishments include:

1. Enhanced governance structures to strengthen organizational decision-making
2. Improved understanding of training needs through structured learning analysis
3. Optimized recruitment processes to attract top talent, including young professionals from across Seychelles
4. Pilot community policing projects tailored to local needs
5. Strengthened multi-agency collaboration, leading to improved child safeguarding through partnerships, capacity building, action planning, and integrated procedures
6. Technological advancements to enhance efficiency and service quality

The ceremony marked the successful conclusion of a pivotal international collaboration dedicated to reinforcing Seychelles' law enforcement framework, ensuring a safer and more resilient society.