From 21 to 26 June 2026, three representatives of the Police Law Department of the State Police College visited France, where they visited the French National Police Academy, the National Shooting Centre of the French National Police, the RAID Special Intervention Unit and the Prince’s Carabinieri base in Monaco, as well as police stations.
The purpose of the visit was to participate in an international training course on providing special protection for persons and to learn about the shooting training methods used by the French police and special intervention units, with the aim of subsequently applying the international practical experience gained to improve the training process for State Police officers.
The shooting instructors of the State Police College familiarised themselves with the requirements and process for training shooting instructors of French law enforcement authorities and learned about the selection criteria. The Latvian instructors also participated in theoretical classes, during which they gained an insight into the shooting training methods and exercises used by their French colleagues, while during practical classes they strengthened their skills in the use of various firearms.
An important benefit was also the opportunity to learn about changes in personnel training methods following the terrorist attacks in Monaco and Nice, as well as to visit police stations of the French National Police, the RAID Special Intervention Unit and the Prince’s Carabinieri base in Monaco, becoming acquainted with the material and technical resources, weaponry and equipment used.
Meanwhile, from 29 June to 3 July 2026, another five representatives of the State Police College visited the European Security Academy in Poland to attend the high-level training course on special protection of persons, “Vehicle Close Quarter Battle (V.C.Q.B.)”.
During the training, participants acquired knowledge and skills concerning finding and using safe cover behind a vehicle, shooting from a vehicle in various positions, and the tactical movement of groups of different sizes in urban environments, buildings, stairwells, etc., while simulating various situations. The participants also explored the availability of the European Security Academy’s material and technical resources and the opportunities they provide.
Visits of this kind abroad help to more successfully develop and provide effective training courses and training methods that correspond to modern-day realities, develop training infrastructure in line with modern trends with a modern and well-equipped training environment, as well as promote further international cooperation and the exchange of experience and knowledge.
The visits of representatives of the State Police College to France and Poland were organised thanks to the European Union Internal Security Fund project No. VP/IDF/2024/5, “Strengthening the Mobility of State Police Response and Counter-Terrorism Capabilities by Establishing a Practical Training Centre”.
The project is being implemented within the framework of the European Union Internal Security Fund 2021–2027 programming period, with the Ministry of the Interior serving as the managing authority in Latvia. The total funding for the project is EUR 10,598,882, of which EUR 7,949,162 is funding from the European Union Internal Security Fund and EUR 2,649,720 is state budget funding. The implementation period is from 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2029.