OSCE/ODIHR trains Latvian police to deal effectively with hate crimes

The crucial role police officers play in countering hate crime was the focus of a training-of-trainers workshop, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Riga from 3 to 5 June 2015.

The workshop, which is the first step in implementing ODIHR’s Training against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme in Latvia, familiarized 18 experienced police officers and instructors with the concept of hate crime, relevant legislation, strategies for investigation and effective responses to these crimes. It also examined the skills necessary for training cadets and police officers, so that participants will be able to share this knowledge with their peers.

“This training-of-trainers workshop will raise awareness on the complexities of dealing with hate crimes by making sure that instructors understand the problem, and that they can then share this information with their colleagues,” said Larry Olomofe, Training Co-ordinator and Adviser on Combating Racism and Xenophobia in ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. “With this workshop, we are transferring knowledge and strengthening skills to ensure that Latvian law-enforcement officials have the tools that they need to effectively address hate crime.”

TAHCLE is part of ODIHR's continued assistance to OSCE participating States in their efforts to build the capacity of law-enforcement agencies to prevent and respond to hate crime. In addition to Latvia, the programme is underway in Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland and Ukraine. The programme is also being implemented in Kosovo.