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Iraq - private security companies

Freedom of Information Act 2000, request no. F2008/194

Date of release: 3 September 2008

Country programmes disclosures

Since the end of hostilities in Iraq, has DFID employed the services of commercial/private security companies in any other capacity than armed protection, i.e. to act as mentors to the local police force or to engage in security sector reform activities?

DFID has not directly employed the services of commercial or private security companies in any other capacity than armed protection.

Since you are interested in this topic you may already be aware of our Security Sector Reform project in Iraq. DFID was responsible for this UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funded project from June 2005 - March 2008.  The project was aimed at strengthening the Iraqi Ministry of Interior's (MoI) oversight and management of the Iraqi Police Service by improving the policy development and implementation capacity of middle and senior ranking Ministry officials.

DFID contracted Crown Agents to oversee management and delivery of the project. As part of this process, Crown Agents sub-contracted Libra Advisory Group to provide some technical assistance. This took the form of ongoing mentoring and training, largely delivered in Baghdad, and complemented by some off-shore training. They worked very closely with counterparts from the Ministry of Interior and Baghdad Police College/Higher Institute.