FAQ's
Policing and Human Rights
| • Advising | • Consulting | • Educating |
Frequently Asked Questions
Qualifications
Q. Are you qualified to teach human rights law?
A. Yes. I hold an LL.M master’s degree in International Human Rights Law taken at the prestigious Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, UK. My study was guided by teaching staff who also hold important key positions in the Human Rights field within the United Nations structure.
Police Experience
Q. What police experience do you have?
A. Thirty years service as a British Police Officer, attaining the rank of Superintendent (Higher Grade). I have wide ranging operational policing experience, including the police use of firearms and public order duty both as an operative and commander. I have experience of training as a trainer and manager. I have command experience of an operational division and I served as head of the Complaints and Discipline Department. I have extensive hostage negotiating experience as a negotiator and as a negotiator trainer and assessor.
Services Provided
Q. What do you offer?
A. The services I offer are outlined on the ‘What I do’ page click here. These are indicative examples based on my previous experience and are the examples are not exhaustive. I will provide policing and human rights training to any reputable organisation providing their needs are within my knowledge and competence.
Additional Support
Q. Suppose our needs turn out to be wider than what you normally offer?
A. No problem. I have wide contacts within the police service, international institutions, non-governmental organisations and within human rights circles and the UN system. I will almost certainly be able to find the information, a person or the method to meet your needs.
Practical Skills
Q. Do you provide practical skills training?
A. No. My work tends to be based on teaching law and standards in a classroom environment. This is then applied to policing circumstances through discussion, exercises, case studies and practical examples from other police services. If practical skills’ training is required to complement my work I have access to good sources.
Current Knowledge
Q. How can you be sure your knowledge is up to date?
A. I research the Policing and Human Rights environment regularly. I maintain a wide circle of contacts in the policing, human rights, legal, international and non-governmental fields and maintain frequent contact.
Countries – Past work
Q. Where have you worked?
A. I have worked in a wide variety of countries in almost all regions of the world.
Countries – Future work
Q. Where can you work?
A. I am prepared to accept work in any region of the world but expect the practical support of the organisation engaging me.
Previous Clients
Q. Who have you worked for?
A. A wide range of organisations including, for example, the International Committee of the Red Cross the Association for the Prevention of Torture, Amnesty International and the United Nations.
Language
Q. Can you teach in any language?
A. No. I prefer to teach in English if possible. Often police forces can identify English speaking officers with whom I can work. I am experienced in teaching through an interpreter and used to providing material for translation.
Length of sessions
Q. How long do your missions require?
A. This depends on the needs you have. Courses may require one or two weeks depending on the contents required. Advisory work may take longer. This is negotiable and I have no minimum or maximum limits.
Contact
Q. How can I make contact with you?
A. Please see the details on the ‘contact’ page by clicking here.
Previous Work
Q. Can you provide examples of past work?
A. In some cases this is possible but please bear in mind I offer full client confidentiality in this sensitive area.
Fees
Q. Are your services expensive?
A. No. My fees are negotiable and variable depending on a wide range of factors.
For thought...
The administration of justice, including law enforcement (…) agencies (…) in full conformity with applicable standards contained in international human rights instruments, are essential to the full and non-discriminatory realization of human rights and indispensable to the process of democracy and sustainable development.
From the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights [Source 7]