criminal evidence rooms in a legal, efficient and professional manner. Real cases of insecure criminal evidence rooms were discussed and the reasons of failure were identified and addressed jointly with the participants. From 7-11 October, the DSPS trained 22 KP officers in the area of victim support and protection during investigations. In general, this five-day course was designed to enhance law enforcement services to the victims of crime, as well as the protection of victims during and after the investigation processes. The training largely focused on practical aspects, where participating investigative officers discussed and worked on a number of real cases, benefitting from the new democratic policing approaches in victims support. With the support of the DSPS and its efforts to ensure sustainable training capacities in the Special Operations Unit (SOU) of KP, the unit received its own certified trainers in the area of arrest and control techniques in difficult situations. This was the result of the training on “Arrest and Control Techniques in High Risk Situations”, which followed many courses organized and delivered by the DSPS for this unit in the past. The training was held from 21 October to 1 November and included both, a theoretical part focusing on human rights and professional police behaviour; as well as a practical part which covered arrest techniques; and the use of police equipment for arrest and control purposes and vehicle search. From 11-15 November, 29 KP close protection officers assigned to conduct extradition operations were trained by the DSPS on extradition procedures at the SOU base. The training provided participants with insight on domestic and international legislation concerning the extradition of wanted persons; search techniques and contraband; transfer procedures in ground and air transport; risk assessment; and handling incidents during operations. Particular focus was given to the use of force (restraint techniques) and its related legislation. From 25-28 November, the DSPS organized a workshop for finalising the Kosovo Police Training Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2018. Aiming to serve as a structural training guide for the next four years, the strategy mainly focuses on enhancing the current capacities, developing capacities in new training areas, and on advancing co-operation with local and international organizations. The DSPS's contribution to the development of this strategy from its first stages up to the finalisation, where the OSCE was seen as the main partner of the KP in the area of specialized and advanced training, was highly appreciated by the police officials. On 2-6 December, the DSPS delivered a ToT on “Arson Investigation Techniques” for 15 investigators and potential trainers from different units of KP, to provide them with first-hand knowledge on this specialized policing area, including the fundamental understanding of the principles related to arson investigations and their application to actual casework; as well as investigation techniques that can assist them in their daily duty performance. Moreover, the course equipped participants with knowledge of different types of arson; fire patterns; arson physical evidence; wild fire investigation; and report writing on arson cases for court proceedings. Security and Safety Education The DSPS continued to assist the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS) and its affiliated agencies, KP, Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, Customs, Agency for Emergency Management, Fire Fighters, Correctional and Probation Services, to become part of the European Higher Education area with the aim to making the training and educational system more transparent, comparable and compatible through the use of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and common degree structures. At the same time, in close co-operation with the EU Office in Kosovo, the DSPS assisted KAPS with advice and 67

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