Abu Dhabi Police Promotes 22 Members to Deal with Victims' Families

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - July 14th 2013 [ME NewsWire]: The Abu Dhabi Police GHQ has qualified 22 members from different police departments across the country, including seven females, to helpvictims' families. Police members underwent a specialized course under the title: “2nd Family Liaison Officer.” The course was recently held at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Major General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at the Abu Dhabi Police and Chairman of Victims Affairs Office Committee at the Ministry of Interior, honored the graduates. He said: “Since its foundation, the Victims Affairs Office has held such specialized courses to qualify and train human resources at the Ministry of Interior in line with the most advanced international standards.”

“The United Arab Emirates, with its people and leadership, always strives to achieve excellence through national efforts. To have an office for victims' affairs is a feature that is distinct to the UAE; such an office is not found in other countries in the region. Training and qualifying human resources is an important aspect of this role that evidences the significance of the Victims Affairs Office,” he added.

Colonel Mohamed Ali Al Dallal, Deputy Chairman of the Victims Affairs Office Committee at the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, said that the Family Liaison Officer course is the second course organized by the Victims Affairs Office. “The course lecturer was Anthony Thomas, who is a British expert on crisis management and victim identification,” he said.

He added: “The 2nd course addressed ways to helpthe families of victims who experienced a crisis. It tackled the psychological aspect of major crisis and the resulting needs of families that lost members during a calamity. The course also discussed communication issues and ways to handle media.”
Al Dallal said that the “2nd Family Liaison Officer” course reviewed a number of experiences, especially in the UK, in order to conclude useful lessons and ways to improve involvement at the Victims Affairs Office.

For his part, British expert, Anthony Thomas, said: “This course explains the ways through which family liaison officers can help families of victims. It is significantly important since these officers are the first to reach victims' families. The Abu Dhabi Police is exerting efforts to harness all means to qualify its human resources and develop their practical skills.”