POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE Police Development and Reform within Security Sector Reform On 2 March, the Mission delivered a media relation training to 17 participants of the KP, Customs, Correctional Service, Emergency Management Agency and KAPS who attended the first line supervision course at the KAPS. This specifically designed media training for public safety institutions covered issues pertaining to the Kosovo media landscape and legal framework, as well as issues related to the media monitoring bodies. The gained knowledge was also practiced through a number of specific on-job scenarios designed to cover multisectorial involvement in communication. It was emphasized throughout the training that professional and resourceful communication between public safety agencies and the media is of great importance and beneficial to the people, as they will be informed about the work and achievements of the public safety sector in a timely fashion. On 11 April, an additional media relation training for 21 participants of the mid-management course was delivered by the Mission at the KAPS, which hosted, apart from the institutions named above, also participants of the Albanian Correctional Service. In general, the training involved matters related to the role of the media in covering the work and achievements of public safety institutions. Additionally, the role of the media as a mechanism for keeping the public informed with an aim to create and maintain a positive image and a strong relationship with the public was constantly emphasized. In order to prepare them to cover their activities through different media arrangements, participants were introduced to the use of professional journalist formats to convey their messages to the audience. The gained knowledge was also practiced through on-the-job specific scenarios, whereas the presentation of each participant was evaluated through group discussions. From 29 April to 2 May, the Mission concluded its training programme on operational command duties for 13 senior KP women officers with a practical training at South Wales Police (SWP) in Cardiff, United Kingdom. This training follows the programme developed in co-operation with the KP and Association of Women in Kosovo Police (AWKP), which consisted of another two training modules, one on management and leadership skills in 2016, and the other on operational commanders’ duties in 2017. Overall, the training aimed at empowering police women by developing their skills and competencies for management and leadership positions. This five-day practical training provided the participating policewomen with an opportunity to closely observe how the SWP applies principles of decision-making models for operational commanders’ duties and how strategic operational and tactical command decisions are taken. They also learned how the SWP maintains trust and confidence within local diverse communities and how operational plans are designed and delegated to police when managing different critical incidents. During the training, participants were mentored by SWP senior policewomen and spread into different police districts across South Wales, which enabled them to network and ensure that the sharing of knowledge, successes and challenges continues after the conclusion of the training. On 12 June, following a training on developing an e-learning platform provided to the KP in 2017, the Mission facilitated a research visit for five police managers to the CEPOL in Hungary, where they were familiarized with the e-learning platform used by CEPOL to provide training to its members. During the research visit, particular focus was also given to equipping participants with knowledge and skills on the development and management of training update and upgrade of ICT systems, procedures for monitoring and evaluating the training, and recording of participation and participant’s assessment. This research visit is part of the Missions’ efforts to support the KP in the process of establishing an e-learning platform for its internal training, which is also envisioned in the KP Training Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2018, the overall implementation of which is supported by the Mission. On 5 November, the Mission handed over 30 computers to the KAPS with an aim to support it in functionalizing the e-learning platform developed by the EU Office in Kosovo, as a key quality assurance component for institutions aiming to become part of the European Higher Education Area. This newly promoted method is expected to enable the law enforcement students to integrate international and local practices for student-centred learning in the form of distance, combined and work-based learning, or simulation. Additionally at this event, the Head of the Mission delivered a speech and a presentation on “Community policing in preventing transnational threats” to the new generation of law enforcement bachelor students of the Faculty for Public Safety. Among other issues, the Head of the Mission emphasized the importance of mastering the advanced technologies used by police as a tool for preventing cyber threats. He also highlighted the crucial role of community policing in P/C VERLT and in the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) as a crucial counter-terrorism measure. From 12 to 14 November, the Mission facilitated a multiinstitutional workshop in order to support the KAPS to review the implementation of its Development Strategy 2016-2018, as well as to draft the new strategy and action plan for the period 2019-2022. The functionalization of the KAPS Faculty for Public Safety, accreditation and reaccreditation of a bachelor degree for public safety, creation of an institute for research, standardization and accreditation 59