Citizen News

Police from Vietnam on visit to Lancashire

12:42pm Friday 19th March 2010

VIETNAMESE police are visiting Lancashire this week to see how suspects are treated in custody.

Six senior officers from the Peoples’ Police Academy (PPA) in Hanoi, Vietnam, are touring custody suites to help improve the way in which the Vietnamese investigate crime, with a strong emphasis on the protection of human rights and the treatment of suspects during investigations.

Mike Kellett, a former Detective Chief Inspector with Lancashire police who now advises the Foreign Office on foreign policing issues, will accompany the group.

He said: “In recent years Vietnam has started to open up to the world and with increased trade and tourism crime in the country has become more complex.

“They are very interested in the ethical investigation of crime and in systems of accountability of the police to the public.”

Amanda Webster, Lancashire Police Authority’s lead member for custody visiting, said: “One of the key objectives of the trip is to help the Vietnamese improve their processes with particular importance being placed on the need to take human rights into account during the investigative process.”

• Email this page