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PSNI officers train Libyan police PSNI officers train Libyan police
(20 minutes later)
Serving police officers from Northern Ireland travelled to Libya in the past year to help train its police, the BBC has learned.Serving police officers from Northern Ireland travelled to Libya in the past year to help train its police, the BBC has learned.
A superintendent has arranged for training to be delivered in Libya and the UK for Libyan officers.A superintendent has arranged for training to be delivered in Libya and the UK for Libyan officers.
The Northern Ireland police officers are seconded to the UK's National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).The Northern Ireland police officers are seconded to the UK's National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).
During the Troubles, Libya supplied guns and explosives which the IRA used to kill police officers.During the Troubles, Libya supplied guns and explosives which the IRA used to kill police officers.
Police said a chief inspector spent a number of days in Libya last November to assess training needs.Police said a chief inspector spent a number of days in Libya last November to assess training needs.
Based on his recommendations, an inspector was part of a tactical command course between 12 January and 2 February.Based on his recommendations, an inspector was part of a tactical command course between 12 January and 2 February.
The NPIA website lists Superintendent Kevin Smith - who served as a police officer in Northern Ireland for 24 years - as having arranged training for Libyan officers in Libya and the UK.The NPIA website lists Superintendent Kevin Smith - who served as a police officer in Northern Ireland for 24 years - as having arranged training for Libyan officers in Libya and the UK.
'International deployment''International deployment'
In a statement, the PSNI said: "As is the case with most other police services in the UK, we currently have a number of PSNI officers seconded to the National Policing Improvement Agency.In a statement, the PSNI said: "As is the case with most other police services in the UK, we currently have a number of PSNI officers seconded to the National Policing Improvement Agency.
"There are agreed statutory processes on the international deployment of all police officers.""There are agreed statutory processes on the international deployment of all police officers."
Some relatives of IRA victims have renewed their attempt to receive compensation from Libya following the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Libyan man Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.Some relatives of IRA victims have renewed their attempt to receive compensation from Libya following the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Libyan man Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.
The DUP's Nigel Dodds is involved in that process.The DUP's Nigel Dodds is involved in that process.
He said he welcomed the fact Libya was "coming in from the cold", but said it could not do so without properly addressing the past.He said he welcomed the fact Libya was "coming in from the cold", but said it could not do so without properly addressing the past.
Somebody knew that was a very difficult political decision and they absolutely would have known that the Policing Board should have been informed Basil McCreaSomebody knew that was a very difficult political decision and they absolutely would have known that the Policing Board should have been informed Basil McCrea
"Until this matter of compensation and Libyan redress towards the victims is addressed, then this is an area that needs to be put on hold and the officers who are there should be withdrawn.""Until this matter of compensation and Libyan redress towards the victims is addressed, then this is an area that needs to be put on hold and the officers who are there should be withdrawn."
The North Belfast MP added it was totally inappropriate and offensive that PSNI officers were selected to provide training "given the very recent history of what the Libyans have done in terms of the annals of terrorism in Northern Ireland".The North Belfast MP added it was totally inappropriate and offensive that PSNI officers were selected to provide training "given the very recent history of what the Libyans have done in terms of the annals of terrorism in Northern Ireland".
Ulster Unionist Basil McCrea, a member of the Policing Board, said he was shocked by the news.Ulster Unionist Basil McCrea, a member of the Policing Board, said he was shocked by the news.
"I just cannot believe that we are sending PSNI officers over a long period of time to deal with Libya, a country primarily responsible for the last 30 or 40 years of death and destruction," he said."I just cannot believe that we are sending PSNI officers over a long period of time to deal with Libya, a country primarily responsible for the last 30 or 40 years of death and destruction," he said.
"Somebody knew that these officers were going to Libya and somebody knew that was a very difficult political decision and they absolutely would have known that the Policing Board should have been informed.""Somebody knew that these officers were going to Libya and somebody knew that was a very difficult political decision and they absolutely would have known that the Policing Board should have been informed."
However, former British ambassador to Libya, Oliver Miles, said the training move was not unexpected.
"If you go back to Tony Blair's first visit to Libya in 2004 one of the very first things that came out of that was a statement about co-operation in the military field, in security," he said.
"It doesn't at all surprise me that should involve a police element."
NPIA has confirmed that a number of Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been involved with training the Libyan police over the past two years.NPIA has confirmed that a number of Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been involved with training the Libyan police over the past two years.
It also said officers from a range of UK police services have trained the Libyan police.It also said officers from a range of UK police services have trained the Libyan police.
The training was arranged in response to a request for support from the Home Office and the British Embassy in Tripoli.The training was arranged in response to a request for support from the Home Office and the British Embassy in Tripoli.