About
About the Strategic Police Advisory Group
A collaborative community of Police Advisers fostering strategic coordination, knowledge-sharing and cooperation between UN Member States and the UN Police Division (UNPD).
Purpose and mandate
A forum for strategic dialogue
SPAG brings together policing experts nominated by Member States through their UN Missions. It offers a structured space to engage with the UN Police Division, exchange expertise, discuss operational challenges and contribute to coherent and effective UN policing initiatives.
Through regular dialogue, SPAG strengthens mutual understanding between Member States and UN institutions on policing priorities, challenges and opportunities.
Areas of focus
- International policing standards and human rights principles
- Operational learning from mission and non-mission settings
- Coordination among Member States and with UN entities
- Institutional capacity-building, particularly in post-conflict and fragile settings
Our role
Our Role in the UN Policing Framework
SPAG serves as an advisory body to the UN Police Division, helping ensure that Member State concerns, contributions and recommendations inform UN policing strategies.
SPAG — advisory
- Strategic dialogue and coordination
- Sharing expertise and lessons learned
- Recommendations to inform UNPD strategy
UN entities — operational
- Mandate implementation in peace operations
- Policy, guidance and deployment decisions
- Management of UN police components
National police services — operational
- National policing responsibilities
- Nomination and deployment of personnel
- Domestic training and capacity
SPAG does not hold operational authority. Operational responsibilities remain with UN entities and national police services.