Most of the discussions both in the EU and the UN on security matters tend to focus on military capability. Yet, whatever the inefficiencies of both organisations in managing armed forces, the real lack of useful capability is in deployable policemen. When something disastrous happens in the Balkans, in East Timor, in Sierra Leone or in any of the other humanitarian crises, the international community is driven to lengthy military deployments. Air power may have been able to bring Milosevic back to the negotiating table over Bosnia and then Kosovo. Soldiers may have been needed to secure the territories after an agreement. However for the long haul, it is the forces of law and order which are needed. Soldiers are not well suited to these tasks of investigation, prosecution and establishment of a belief in the rule of law. They are also expensive to deploy for long periods, and the supplying states soon grow weary of the commitment.
What the UN is desperately short of is a pool of international policemen to deploy to troubled areas. They could often be used to prevent failing states from descending into anarchy. In any peace settlement, they could bring order and train the local police forces to be fair in their dispensing of justice. Unfortunately, there has not been any available pool of "spare" policemen (and police women). They all tend to be fully employed on their local national duties. This is one initiative that requires inter-governmental co-operation, which is something the EU is particularly good at. The reports that EU leaders, during the current meeting in Portugal, are looking at a 5,000 strong police force for international tasks is very welcome. The aim is to have the force in being by 2003, with an ability to deploy 1000 officers at 30 days notice. What would these policemen do when not deployed? They could provide training teams, or doubtless even supplement hard pressed national forces. How would the UK, with its very regionalised police forces, provide a contribution? Perhaps early retirees from the RUC have an exciting career opportunity ahead.