Senior officials in Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) have approached the University to explore ways in which the two institutions could collaborate on training and research.
Lesotho, known as the 'Kingdom in the sky', is a mountainous and landlocked region surrounded by South Africa. It is one of only three independent states in the world that is entirely encircled by the territory of another country.
LMPS believes its officers will benefit from the unrivalled expertise found at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, which already supports police training in Botswana and more locally, delivers Police Constable Degree Apprenticeships and degree holder conversion for Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey police.
I hope this is the start of a collaboration for the benefit of policing.
To mark the occasion Dr Nicholas Pamment, Principal Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice, was invited to speak at an online training event at the Police Training College, Maseru, attended by Police Constables, Sergeants and Detectives of LMPS.
The training lecture provided an overview of criminology, highlighting its central position within police training. Dr Pamment said: "I was delighted to deliver a lecture to LMPS. Despite the challenges Covid-19 brings to travel, distance is no barrier and the lecture showed the power of technology. I hope this is the start of a collaboration for the benefit of policing."
Matsepang Ramarikhoane, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, said: "This training intervention came at the opportune time when the LMPS needs to refocus its efforts in the issues of crime and criminality as well as policing in general. This is a great step towards building the LMPS that we want."
Today marks the beginning of a historic relationship between the University of Portsmouth and Lesotho Mounted Police Service.
The event was formally opened by the Commissioner of LMPS. Mr Holomo Molibeli said: "Today marks the beginning of a historic relationship between the University of Portsmouth and Lesotho Mounted Police Service.
"The Lesotho Mounted Police Service, as a safety and security institution in the Kingdom of Lesotho, is in dire need of proper and adequate training for its workforce.
It is a learning organisation that aspires to improve its service delivery through building the capacity of its members. It is understandable that the provision of the professional policing and law enforcement services to the public will be realised through the acquisition of relevant knowledge and skills in criminal justice by our personnel.
As the management of police institution, we have deliberated and given much consideration on how we can build and sustain the capacity of the police personnel in police practice. We have found that establishing partnerships and collaboration with institutions of higher learning will be a fitting solution".
