Speaking at the graduation ceremony, held on 25 June in the Warrap capital of Kuajok, State Police Commissioner Major General Andrew Kuol Nyuon urged participants to translate what they had learned into practice.

"Now is your turn to serve the people and the state professionally and enthusiastically...." he told the officers gathered at Kuajok Police Training centre.

Training areas included the Police Act, Code of Conduct, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act, crime investigation, human rights, election/ referendum security, gender, child protection, sexual harassment and trafficking.

Noting that the Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) began from scratch following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, General Nyuon said police service in the region had been improving with the help of the UN and other international partners.

"Now we are in the process of building professional and ethical police forces, thanks to the unwavering support of the UN and the international community, the commissioner said.

Captain Waheed Ur Rahman, UNMIS Police Commander for Wau area, said he had full confidence in the officers to serve their people professionally. "We at the UN hope that, as custodians of the law, you will serve your people better than you did previously."

Training graduate Agar Deng Wol said he had learned much from the training. "Now I can say that I am a professional police officer who is ready to serve my people with honesty and professionalism."

Warrap Director for Police Administration Affairs Col. Albino Majak Kuol said the state had experienced insecurity, mainly through cattle raiding and looting. He expressed hope that the training would help ease the problem.

Captain Rahman said UN Police had conducted similar training sessions in Warrap, Northern Bahr El-Ghazal and Western Bahr El-Ghazal states for about 80 police officers from the three states.

The training was funded jointly by UNMIS and the UN Development Program.