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UN Police Division

The Police Division became a part of the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions in 2000

It comprises the Office of the Police Adviser, the Strategic Policy and Development Section, the Selection and Recruitment Section, Mission Management and Support Section and the Standing Police Capacity. The Police Division is led by the United Nations Police Adviser.

The Police Division creates policy and guidance and defining the parameters of international police peacekeeping. It is also provides technical advice to the police components of UN peace operations. The Police Division further improves efforts to recruit, select, deploy and rotate highly qualified staff in missions and increasing the number of female officers in the UN police. In addition, it is developing partnerships for more effective delivery of its mandates.

Standing Police Capacity

The United Nations Police Standing Police Capacity (SPC) is one of four sections of the Police Division. It assists in the fulfilment of the strategic mission of the UN Police by providing rapidly deployable, effective, and coherent policing expertise to UN peace operations during the start-up, reinforcement and transition phases, post conflict and other crisis situations.

The SPC provides officers with specialist knowledge and experience, including police reform and restructuring, public order, transnational organized crime, community oriented policing, legal affairs, analysis, training, planning, logistics, budget and funds management, human resources, information and communication technology, investigations and gender advisory services. When deployed, SPC staff can serve in multi-hatted functions to:

  • Provide start-up capability for new police components of UN peace operations.
  • Assist existing UN peace operations through the provision of police and other law enforcement advice and expertise, including in preparation for transition and drawdown.
  • The SPC may also conduct operational assessments and evaluations of UN police components as well as other relevant mandated duties as approved by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacek Operations.