UK Partners with the Judiciary of Tanzania to Tackle Serious Crime
Judges from the High Court of Tanzania are this week attending the “Serious Crimes Judicial Skills Course” at the White Sands Hotel, Mbezi Beach, Dar es Salaam.
The British High Commissioner, Dianna Melrose in a group picture with Judges
The British High Commissioner, Dianna Melrose, and the Honorary Presiding Judge of the High Court, Shaban Lila, attended the course to congratulate the participants.
The course is funded by the United Kingdom government as part of the joint commitment by Tanzania and the United Kingdom to work closely together to tackle serious crime.
The course is designed to support the Tanzania judiciary to tackle the growing national and international threats of serious crime including drug trafficking, illegal wildlife trade, terrorism and the recovery of criminal assets.
Judges are attending from High Courts across Tanzania including: Tanga, Moshi, Arusha, Tabora, Mwanza, Bukoba, Dodoma Sumbawanga and Dar es Salaam.
This is part of a package of support between Tanzania and the United Kingdom on serious international crime. This includes work with police, prosecutors and law makers.
The Indian Ocean region is increasingly being used by drug traffickers to transport large volumes of illegal drugs to East Africa from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since 2012 international naval forces in the region have stopped more than 44 vessels and seized more than 8 tonnes of heroin and 30 tonnes of hashish.
Joint work between the UK and Tanzania has led to the detention and prosecution of international drug traffickers in both Tanzania and the United Kingdom.
Dianna Melrose explained why the UK was supporting this work:
“Tanzania and the United Kingdom have a common interest in tackling serious crime together. We are increasingly seeing that international criminals use international networks to traffick illegal drugs, plan activity and then seek to hide the profits of their crime. It is only by working together that we can make sure there are no safe havens for criminals.
I am pleased that Tanzanian and UK judges are able to work together in this course. The common history of our laws and legal institutions means that we are able to learn from each other. This course will provide valuable, practical training to those in the front line fighting serious crime in Tanzania.
I am delighted that the United Kingdom government is able to partner with the Judiciary of Tanzania.”