The next podcast on the Unconventional Soldier looks at a little known deployment of the RUC to Kosovo. The 1990s saw the Balkans become the focal point of some of the most brutal conflicts in Europe since World War II. The Kosovo War, which erupted on February 28, 1998, and concluded on June 11, 1999, was characterized by ethnic cleansing, mass killings, and the displacement of nearly a million people. After NATO air strikes prompted Yugoslav forces to withdraw, a massive international peacekeeping mission began, involving NATO troops, the United Nations (UN), and various international organizations. In this environment of destroyed infrastructure, traumatized communities, and hostile militias, the challenge was maintaining law, order, and stability in the aftermath of war.
My guest on this episode is former RUC/PSNI police officer Andy who deployed to Kosovo as part of the UN international peacekeeping mission, offering a unique perspective on transitioning from domestic conflict in the UK to an international operation. Andy has also appeared on a previous podcast when he discussed his time as a surveillance officer in the RUC’s elite E4A.
The Unique RUC Skill Set and Political Delays
Following the conflict, Kosovo needed to re-establish its infrastructure and systems of law and order. The UN passed a resolution to deploy a UN police force whose mission was explicitly focused on law enforcement, rather than just monitoring or mentoring.
The British government was eager to contribute, and the RUC was deemed particularly suitable due to its unique experience working alongside the military in complex conflict zones. However, the deployment of 60 RUC officers was fraught with political complexity. While the government publicly touted the RUC as “one of the world leaders in this type of policing,” the move was seen by some parts of the community as rewarding the RUC, while others questioned why the contentious organization was being imposed on another country. The deployment date, originally planned for mid-1999, was continually postponed, which Andy now believes was due to political negotiations rather than merely providing more training.
Crossing Political Divides for Pre-Deployment Training
The RUC officers received an enhanced pre-deployment package similar to that given to the military, covering firearms, patrolling, specific training on unexploded munitions and mines for the Balkans, and enhanced medical care. A particularly sensitive political element of the preparation involved transporting the group to the Garda training centre in Southern Ireland. While officers had previously attended courses there, this scale was unprecedented and caused quite a “stir”. This decision was seen as a huge political step, helping to bridge the North-South divide after the Good Friday Agreement. Despite the political context, the RUC officers were treated with exceptional hospitality by the Garda. One Garda , whose friend had been killed by the Provisional IRA, expressed his admiration, noting the RUC’s resilience having lost over 300 colleagues.
Chaos and Gravy Trains: Arriving in Pristina
The RUC advance party deployed via Macedonia (Skopje), as the airport in Pristina had been destroyed. The journey involved a major delay at the Macedonian-Kosovo border, where Greek soldiers explained that the Macedonians were intentionally slowing traffic, concerned that all the international money and supplies were moving north without staying in Macedonia. Upon arrival in Pristina, the officers checked into the ramshackle “UN Hotel” for a basic four-day induction. Andy quickly gained an early insight into the UN’s organizational culture: during the induction, a US officer claimed to be a “chief of police,” but was later revealed to be a school campus cop with limited power—a theme of exaggeration Andy noticed among some nations in the UN mission.
The UN mandate intended to inject money into the local economy by providing officers with a daily allowance (initially $75, later $55) to rent local accommodation and buy food. However, the RUC arrived late in the process, finding that numerous NGOs and other nationalities with large budgets had already secured the best houses. Desperate for housing, Andy and his colleagues accepted a house without running water, and the family was so keen to secure the $300/month rent that they woke their children and moved out immediately.
Law Enforcement in a Vacuum
“Part of Kosovo was like a cross between Life on Mars and Mad Max and the Bill”.
Andy – RUC Officer
Operational realities were stark. When the RUC arrived, there was no judicial system. Anyone arrested was taken to a detention centre in Pristina or transferred to a prison outside of town, with their cases deferred to be dealt with “at a later date”. For powers of arrest, the RUC relied heavily on the practices and common law they had been taught in the UK. The UN mission operated on a system of “national balance,” although nations that arrived first often secured key roles. The operations department was mostly American, and criminal investigations were led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who were considered excellent. The specialized SWAT/SFO role was predominantly staffed by impressive German and Austrian officers. Andy summed up the policing environment with the powerful analogy: “Part of Kosovo was like a cross between Life on Mars and Mad Max and the Bill”.
Working with the British Military
The RUC’s decades of experience working alongside the British Army in Northern Ireland proved invaluable. This historical relationship translated immediately into easy cooperation in Kosovo, forming an “ideal transfer of skills”. The RUC, deployed alongside 2 Royal Green Jackets, provided police presence during army searches and traffic incidents. In return, the military, being established and having better infrastructure, provided crucial support, including rations, bottled water, and access to the military cook house.
Podcast Release Date
This podcast will be out on 30 October 2024. Available wherever you get your pods from.
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