Release Date: Jan 18, 2019
PRESS RELEASE
Liverpool’s Merseyside Police investigators train CMP staff
(Nicosia 18 January 2019) – Two senior trainers from Liverpool’s Merseyside police have provided for a highly valuable training program in Nicosia to more than 20 Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots involved in the investigative efforts of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP). The training from 14 to 18 January 2019 was led by senior Merseyside police officers Mr. Tim Keelan, recently retired with more than 40 years investigation experience, and Mr. John Porter, a serving officer and trainer with more than 30 years’ experience.
The one-week training covered, among other things, topics such as the conduct of witness interviews and assessments, the evaluation and grading of information, the recording of witness statements and data management.
These newly acquired skills will help CMP staff to improve their theoretical knowledge and practical application of investigative skills and assist the CMP to recover and identify the remains of persons still missing across the island. This is particularly important at a time when witnesses with knowledge of sites where missing persons may have been buried are reaching very advanced ages.
The CMP Members are extremely grateful to the support provided by the Merseyside Police and hope that this cooperation will continue.