Policeman swaps South Wales for streets of Basra

A SOUTH Wales policeman is patrolling the streets of Iraq. Assistant Chief Constable Geoff Cooper, 49, has been posted to Basra alongside 15 other British police officers as part of their secondment to the Foreign Office.

Mr Cooper, who is married and lives in Cardiff, said: “It’s an absolutely tremendous feeling because being here on the streets of Basra just shows how much the security situation has improved.”

It is the first time British police have been able to patrol Iraq’s second city alongside their Iraqi counterparts, including over the Eid celebrations.

Mr Cooper, who has been working in the Middle East as the UK’s chief police adviser for the past seven months, said: “It was a privilege to be able to share the joy of families celebrating the festivities, which would have previously been impossible.

“Our mission is about listening to the needs of the Iraqi police and supporting them to develop Iraqi systems and processes, which will stand the test of time.”

For the full story on Wales online click here

Read more on News Wales online here