ARRC JOURNAL
The aim of Stability Policing
The aim of SP is to establish a safe and
secure environment (SASE), restore
public order and security and contribute
to create the conditions for effective
governance. Throughout the spectrum
of conflict the initial goal of SP is to re-
establish and maintain sufficient security
for the local populace. Afterwards, it
seeks to re-establish law and order and
to enforce the law, eventually leading
to reinforcement of local security
institutions.
Is Stability Police a function of
the Military Police?
The key components of SP, in the
wake of the NATO MSU, developed
over approximately two decades.
Stability Policing is not currently a
defined function of the MP corps, but
the discussion within NATO is ongoing.
Taking into consideration that SP
requires a civil policing-focussed mindset
and a specialist approach, such thinking
reflects that focus, meeting the needs
and expectations of the civil population in
order to be successful. Stability Policing
is a capability that can be applied to any
NATO operation and includes a wide
range of civil police activities that focus
on civil populations. Security Policing
may be conducted by a range of military
forces; the best suitable forces are the
gendarmerie-type forces and the MP.
When MP are required to conduct SP,
they are not conceptually performing MP
activities, but assisting in delivering civil
police activities. Other military forces
can contribute with their own specialised
capabilities.
The added value of SP is inherent in
its contribution to enable NATO to have
a holistic approach to crisis response.
The added usefulness for the NATO
Force commander resides in having the
availability of military forces trained and
equipped to conduct the operation with a
specialist capacity of civil policing.
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ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
The Centre of Excellence
for Stability Police Units
(CoESPU)
Stemming from an Italian initiative,
supported by G8 Summit countries
as part of a wider action plan of the
International Community for Expanding
Global Capability for Peace Support
Operations, with an emphasis on African
countries, the CoESPU was established
by the Carabinieri on 1 March 2005 in
Vicenza, Italy.
The CoESPU, as a national structure
opened to international contributions,
is a centre for advanced studies and a
doctrinal hub, serving as a think tank and
a training centre that mainly operates
in cooperation with the UN Department
of Peacekeeping Operations and
with other international organisations,
to develop Carabinieri-like units of
interested police contributing countries
committed to support peace operations.
Sponsored by the US Department
of State through its Global Peace
Operations Initiative, the project is based
on the international expertise developed
by the Italian Carabinieri, as well as
on their expertise developed through
numerous peacekeeping missions over
last few decades. The Centre is primarily
dedicated to:
• Conducting training programs;
• Maturing current police peacekeeping
doctrine and related best practises,
developing doctrinal proposals and
new operational procedures;
• Promote interoperability principles;
• Be an active part of a worldwide
‘doctrinal network’, interacting with the
various international organisations,
academic institutes and research
centres.
The CoESPU’s training efforts aim to
prepare police peacekeepers specialised
in managing the transition from a post-
crisis situation to a stable environment
for reconstruction, through a people
and
community-oriented
approach.
The Centre of Excellence is open to all
countries interested in establishing their
own SP units, which may be employed in
peace operations under the auspices of
the UN, as well as of other international
organisations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Captain Patrick Crossland is a 12-
year veteran of the British Army and
currently serves as a Military Police staff
officer with the ARRC. In his previous
assignment he served as the Operations
Officer for the 158th Provost Company,
Royal Military Police in Bulford, England.
Capt. Crossland has deployed on
combat operations in Afghanistan and
has conducted Military Police training
on four continents. A native of North
Yorkshire, England, Capt. Crossland
holds a degree in International Politics
from Swansea University.