In December 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the European Union, held two trainings on investigation skills for police officers in Somalia. The 42 officers from police units in Bossaso and Garowe were trained  on  crime detection strategies/hostage situations/search system, intelligence gathering, identification of and arrest of suspected perpetrators, victim support, interviewing  child victims, interrogation techniques, preparation of  a good case file, manning police check points, arrest of criminals, and communication between law enforcing bodies. The trained police will use their gained skills to better manage and investigate cases of human trafficking.

The Puntland Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Commander identified the need for training of the police on trafficking investigation skills, with forensic emphasis to assist the police officers to improve their investigation skills.

During a training also held in December on trafficking, smuggling and human rights of migrants, for 22 government officials of the Puntland Counter Trafficking Board (PCTB), the officials acknowledged that cases of human trafficking and smuggling are on the increase. The Puntland Counter Trafficking Board comprises of 22 government officials from nine ministries in the Puntland State of Somalia of which the Puntland CID office is a member. The Board was established to enable the government institutions to address issues of trafficking and smuggling in a systematic coordinated manner, and ensure actors involved in addressing trafficking and smuggling cooperate and do not duplicate activities.

Speaking during the police training, the Commissioner of Puntland Police Force Major General Jama Sahardiid Abdi stated, “I am pleased that human trafficking investigation skills are being imparted to the counter-trafficking police units at a time when incidents of human trafficking have increased in the region.” He also noted that victims of child trafficking often undergo Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and police need to recognize the signs of SGBV to refer suspected cases for appropriate assistance and further investigation.  He urged the participants to participate effectively in order to be able to effectively implement what they learnt during the training. He expressed hope for continued support in building the capacity of the Puntland police including coast guards and the counter trafficking police unit with further training courses of a similar nature.

For more information, please contact IOM Somalia, Tagel Solomon, and Tel: 00 254  712 235 079, Email: tsolomon@iom.int