Written question asked by Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party) on Tuesday, 19 September 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 October 2023. It was answered by David Rutley (Conservative) on Monday, 16 October 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Colombia: Police

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department (a) is providing and (b) plans to provide support to Colombia to help enable (i) structural reform of the National Police, (ii) a review of the protocols for the use of force and weapons and (iii) greater protection for the right to peaceful assembly.

Answer: Whilst structural reform and internal reviews are a matter for the Colombian Government, we are clear that we support the right of all Colombians to protest peacefully, and that the right to peaceful assembly and association must be guaranteed. Through the Conflict, Security, and Stabilisation Fund (CSSF) in Colombia, the UK launched a three year, £2.1 million Police Innovations for Stabilisation in Colombia Programme (SCIP) in 2020, which is helping the transformation of the Colombian National Police. The SCIP aims to contribute to the modernisation of the police service by scaling up and improving police practices with a preventive approach, focusing on i) building links and trust with communities to improve relations and reduce conflict; ii) putting human rights first when managing social tensions and preventing violence; iii) developing and implementing strategies for tackling and preventing gender-based violence.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 200403
Session: 2022-23
Subjects: Development aid Police Reform Weapons Colombia Freedom of association
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk