The 500 cadets were selected from a pool of over 2,200 candidates. The recruitment and vetting process was a time consuming procedure that has taken several months.
“A great effort was made to ensure that the new cadets represent all communities in Bahrain,” the Minister said.
“To achieve this, 100 people have been selected from each of the five governorates and 400 of the candidates are male and 100 are female.”
The Minister also said that this, in addition to the recent naming of the new police ombudsman, is a significant step towards the reform that was recommended in the BICI Report.
“Integrating the security services, as well as a changing the culture of the organization, are long-term reforms,” the Minister said. “We are implementing plans to move away from public order policing toward a more Human Rights based approach. The end goal is to provide a full-service police department that engenders the trust of all segments of the population.”
The new police cadets will be the first to receive training under the fully revamped Human Rights curriculum at the Royal Police Academy. The teaching syllabus was revised to comply with all internationally recognized human rights standards and best practices. The training will last six months. Upon graduation, the new officers will hit the streets in early April.
“We have the responsibility to maintain its security and stability which are the foundations of any nation’s prosperity and a means to achieve, by the grace of God, the wishes of all who are looking for a prosperous future.”