Seychelles-UK policing partnership expands |02 August 2023

UK Policing specialist, Sir George Hamilton (left), handing over a sample of the donation to the Commissioner of Police, Ted Barbe

● Focuses on reform and challenging the heroin epidemic 

The British High Commission has donated an additional package of technical equipment to the Seychelles Police Force as part of an expansion of the Seychelles-UK policing partnership.

This equipment provided by the UK includes digital forensic technology, satellite phones, laptops, cameras and new smart board training and operational planning equipment. It will be used as part of the ongoing implementation of the Strategic Review of Policing, which was launched in June 2022 by the Commissioner of Police, Ted Barbe.

The review was developed by local police leaders working in partnership with three senior policing specialists from the UK. It sets out a new vision for policing and outlines a number of cost-neutral practical changes that can help to reduce crime in Seychelles.

The focus of the policing partnership in recent months has been to support Seychelles’ request for assistance to address the world’s worst heroin epidemic by directly challenging local drug dealing networks. 

This follows concern at the rising impact of heroin use. As well as loss of life and increased crime, it also poses a threat to tourism and other key sectors of the economy, following increased international media attention. 

At a ceremony at the Police Academy to hand over the new equipment, the UK policing team was represented by Sir George Hamilton, who has held several senior positions in the UK and has supported police reform internationally.  

At the ceremony, Commissioner Barbe expressed his gratitude towards the British High Commission, touching upon the critical role the technology will play in implementing the objectives of the strategic review.  

Commenting on the donation, the British High Commissioner, Patrick Lynch, said, 

“We are very pleased that we have been able to respond so quickly and effectively to the request for support for the government of Seychelles’ ambitions to build safer communities. There have been many different elements to this support, with world-leading technical equipment being complemented by the presence of world-leading experts. Importantly, the UK is the supporting partner, with the change being led by local experts who are designing Seychellois solutions to Seychellois challenges.

He further added “there was no doubt that the biggest threat to this country at the moment is heroin, with rates of use being worse than in any other country in the world.  Tragically, many lives have already been lost, and as the situation has deteriorated, we can see a huge risk to tourism, which drives the local economy. There is absolutely no reason that the heroin networks cannot be quickly dismantled”. 

My Lynch stated that “we are encouraged to see the start of what could be a robust criminal justice response. If this continues, then lives will be saved, and an economic catastrophe will be avoided”.

Contributed