Senior policeman to aid stability in Afghanistan

A police chief is taking a year out from his job in West Yorkshire to work on improving the “dire” policing of a country damaged by war, corruption and terrorism.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jul 2011, 10:58 BST

Halifax-based Superintendent Stan Bates, who joined Calderdale division as head of operations nearly three years ago, will fly out to Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, next month to assist those who police the republic.

He is being deployed by the Stabilisation Unit, the UK Government’s centre of expertise in helping fragile countries to recover from conflict, to join the European Union’s Policing Mission which is part of an international programme of assistance to secure police reform.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Supt Bates, who will return to West Yorkshire Police after a 12-month secondment, said he would be working to improve policing standards in Afghanistan.

“I will be working with the Afghan Civil Police with the aim of establishing sustainable and effective civilian policing arrangements under Afghan ownership and in accordance with international standards.

“By assisting the Afghan people to achieve security in their own territory we will ultimately make the UK a safer place.”

The Stabilisation Unit works with UK police forces to provide over 30 police officers to nine international missions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Supt Bates joined West Yorkshire Police in 1985. He has served in various divisions throughout the county as well as in specialist crime jobs.

He has previously worked in Belarus and the Ukraine on behalf of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and for two years worked at the Home Office developing partnership solutions to dealing with drug using offenders.

Prior to taking up his post in Calderdale, Supt Bates headed the Child and Public Protection department of West Yorkshire Police for nearly four years.

Supt Bates, who is married and has a daughter, said: “It will be challenging but rewarding. I am looking forward to using the experiences and skills I have gained from working with West Yorkshire Police to help the people of Afghanistan.”

A recent House of Lords report on the Afghan National Police found that it was in a “dire state” due to high attrition and illiteracy rates and corruption.

Related topics:West YorkshireWest Yorkshire PoliceAfghanistanCalderdaleHalifax