Durham: As part of his visit to the United Kingdom, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, visited Durham Constabulary, accompanied by Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom, and a number of senior officials from the Ministry of Interior.
According to Bahrain News Agency, upon arrival at Durham Police Headquarters, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah and his delegation were received by Chief Constable Rachel Bacon, who welcomed the visit and highlighted its importance in strengthening the fruitful partnership between Durham Constabulary and the Ministry of Interior. She noted that the visit supports the launch of advanced training programmes and workshops in various policing and law enforcement domains.
General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah commended the strong relations and strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, emphasising the importance of continuing to enhance cooperation based on shared commitment to maintaining security and international peace. The Minister expressed appreciation for the wide-ranging cooperation and training between the two sides. He underscored Bahrain’s commitment to the highest professional standards in law enforcement, noting that Ministry personnel have benefited from Durham’s expertise in forensics, investigations, and leadership training.
He added that both sides agreed to explore proposed future areas of cooperation, including training on the latest policing techniques, in line with the Ministry’s strategy to strengthen the efficiency and capabilities of police officers across all areas of law enforcement. The Minister expressed confidence that cooperation could be further expanded, benefiting from Durham Constabulary’s experience and best practices.
Among the training programmes previously conducted between the two sides were specialised courses in forensic science and professional investigation. Future programmes are expected to cover topics such as combating transnational organised crime and applying artificial intelligence in policing. During the session, Durham Constabulary presented briefings on police leadership, community policing initiatives, engagement with schools, and road safety programmes.
General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah also outlined Bahrain’s expertise in rehabilitation and community integration through the alternative sentencing programme and the open prisons programme. He highlighted the ‘Together’ (Ma’an) anti-violence and addiction awareness programme, implemented by the Community Police Directorate in cooperation with the Ministry of Education across all Bahraini schools. The meeting discussed means to strengthen the productive training partnership and exchange expertise to further enhance police performance.