Last Friday, Head of the British Embassy Martin Longden met
with caretaker Minister of Interior Mohamed Fehmi and the
Director General of the Internal Security Forces General
Imad Othman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that
anchors the continuity of co-operation with the Internal
Security Forces (ISF) under the British Policing Support
Programme, worth £18.5m (2019-2022). The MOU signed during
the ISF’s Strategic Programme Management Committee (SPMC)
was in the presence of the UK’s Police Attaché Sally
Hatfield, Elizabeth Greensides, Head of Conflict, Stability
and Security Fund Lebanon Programmes and Sarah Kronfol,
Head of Security Programme.
The MOU confirms the UK’s support and the MOI’s vision to
strengthen the resilience of the Internal Security Forces
to deliver internal security, community policing and
service to all communities in Lebanon that anchors trust,
respect for human rights, accountability and
professionalism.
After the signature, Dr. Longden said:
Lebanon is passing through one of its toughest chapters
in recent history. The multitude of current crises, and
the lack of any political progress, are putting ever more
pressures on public order and those tasked with
maintaining it. We understand the importance of a modern,
transparent and accountable police force for Lebanon, and
value our partnership with the ISF as we work on this
transformation agenda together.
