A police force in southwestern Ontario is under investigation for sending a team to an international competition in Dubai. The event included training for the members as well as a competition with a Russian special unit. Members of this Russian unit are accused of perpetrating persecution in Ukraine.
The London Police Services Board has launched a review of the approval process for the UAE SWAT Challenge competition. There, dozens of units from different countries face each other in late January and early February in tactical, rescue and obstacle courses.
Only the London Police Force of Ontario participated from Canada. Two US police forces, the New York Police Department and the San Antonio Police Department, also sent representatives. Among the participants were Chechnya’s Akhmat units, which are accused of perpetrating persecution in Ukraine. The unit’s victory was celebrated at a ceremony on the fourth day, attended by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s son Adam Kadyrov.
Ramzan Kadyrov is one of several associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin targeted by the Canadian government with economic sanctions.
London’s chief constable and mayor have acknowledged the police board’s review. But they did not comment on whether it was correct to attend such an event with the participation of Akhmat Unit.
“I am ready to be fully involved in the board’s review,” London Police Chief Thai Truyong said in an email earlier this week. Because we want to ensure that our members receive the best training to perform their duties effectively and safely. Through negotiations with the Dubai Police, the cost of this trip was reduced from 1 lakh 15 thousand dollars to 15 thousand 700 dollars.
