International Law Enforcement Academies

International Law Enforcement Academies were established in 1995 by President Clinton as a means of bringing together international law enforcement to reduce crime, combat terrorism, and share in knowledge and training. ILEAs are administered by the United States Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement and Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Presently, there are five ILEAs located around the world: ILEA Budapest in Hungary, ILEA Bangkok in Thailand, ILEA Gaborone in Botswana, ILEA Roswell in New Mexico, USA, and ILEA San Salvador in El Salvador.

Participating agencies include DSS, DEA, ATF, FBI, ICE, FLETC, and DOI, among others. Instructors teach courses on subjects such as physical security for installations, transnational investigations, post-blast investigations, endangered species, and document fraud.

The effectiveness of the ILEAs in Bangkok and Budapest reinforced support for an academy to assist the law enforcement agencies of sub-Saharan Africa. The ILEA Policy Board proposed creation of an ILEA that would focus on enhancing the effectiveness of regional cooperation against the principal transnational criminal trends in Africa - illicit drug trafficking, financial crimes, terrorism and alien smuggling. The ILEA would provide a core curriculum of management and technical instruction for criminal justice managers to develop effective law enforcement cooperation while enhancing each country's criminal justice institutions abilities to suppress transnational crime. [ [http://www.state.gov/p/inl/ilea/c11283.htm ILEA Gaborone ] ]

The government of the United States and the government of Botswana entered into negotiations in 1999 to establish an ILEA in Gaborone to promote international cooperation against crime. The ILEA in Gaborone would be organized to follow the curriculum model established by the existing regional ILEA’s in Hungary and Thailand.

On July 24, 2000, the governments of the United States and Botswana entered into an agreement for establishing an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) that would provide training for middle managers from member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East Africa and other eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Agreement established the ILEA and defined the objectives and management of the institution, as well as the roles and responsibilities of both countries in management and funding. The Agreement also created a Joint United States – Botswana Oversight Committee to oversee the policies and operation of the Academy. The Joint Committee meets at least twice a year and operates by consensus of the parties.

References

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/p/inl/ilea/ ILEA Homepage]
* [http://www.state.gov/p/inl/ Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs]
* [http://www.state.gov/m/ds/ Bureau of Diplomatic Security]