Dealing with inmates effectively inside a prison involves managing and supporting their rehabilitation, addressing their needs, and maintaining a healthy and safe constructive environment.

To further enhance the capabilities of trainers of the Correction and Rehabilitation Centres Department (CRCD) of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP), EUPOL COPPS Penitentiary Advisers and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (SPPS) organised a study visit to Stockholm, Sweden, from 1 to 4 April for Palestinian police officers running the CRCD.

At the beginning of the visit, which included a meeting with the SPPS International Desk and a visit to the SPPS Training Academy in Stockholm, several topics were discussed such as the basic training manual, its content and structure, the use of lawful authority and self-defense in the line of duty.

Towards the end of the study visit, which was also supported by the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX), an instrument of the European Commission, CRCD counterparts along with the Mission’s advisers visited three prisons of various security classes and witnessed how the normalisation process of the inmates is executed through sentence planning and their gradual journey from higher security prions to lower security (open) prisons.

In addition to other areas of the Mission’s support to the PCP, EUPOL COPPS Penitentiary Team works closely with their Palestinian counterparts to further enhance capacities in line with international standards.