The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in London hosts a joint workshop with the National Crime Agency and the UK Home Office to strengthen security cooperation and combat organised crime

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United Kingdom, Dr Salih Husain Ali Al-Tamimi, received at the Embassy in London Mr Kenneth Dron, Head of Operations at the UK National Crime Agency, Ms Simone Alleyne, Senior Director at the Agency, and Mr Alex Sutton, a representative of the Middle East team at the UK Home Office, within the framework of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and combating organised crime.

During the meeting, discussions focused on ways to advance cooperation between Iraq and the United Kingdom in addressing shared security challenges, particularly in the areas of organised crime and financial crime, as well as the exchange of expertise in cybersecurity and advanced technologies.

Following the meeting, the Embassy hosted a specialised workshop delivered by the visiting delegation, which addressed a number of key themes, including the role of the Agency in tackling organised crime and financial crime, and the challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence in exploiting security vulnerabilities, conducting cyberattacks, and carrying out online extortion. Participants also reviewed mechanisms for international cooperation in the field of forensic evidence, particularly existing partnerships with the European Union and the United States.

In another session, discussions covered joint cooperation with Iraq in monitoring crimes related to digital currencies, in addition to collaboration in forensic evidence in the context of counter-narcotics efforts. These initiatives aim to enhance the capabilities of the relevant authorities in Iraq to address such challenges. The participants commended the level of existing cooperation with Iraq in these areas.

His Excellency the Ambassador emphasised the importance of continuing and further developing this cooperation in a manner that serves mutual interests and contributes to strengthening security and stability. He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the British side in supporting Iraq across various security and technical fields.