The NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence, established in 2015, is a multinational military body dedicated to promoting stability and reconstruction in conflict-ridden regions. As a hub of expertise and innovation, this Centre of Excellence plays a vital role in supporting NATO’s efforts for the stabilization of conflict and crisis areas, and for the protection of civilians.
Located in Vicenza, Italy, the Centre of Excellence is funded and staffed by a consortium of NATO nations, including Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Poland, Romania, Spain, the Netherlands, and Türkiye. Its workforce comprises soldiers and police officers from these countries, bringing a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to its operations.
The NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence offers a unique capability to the Alliance, NATO Nations, and partners by providing training, expertise, and support in police-related activities. Its mission is to promote stability and reconstruction efforts, uphold public order and security, and protect human rights in conflict and crisis scenarios. To achieve these objectives, the Centre focuses on bridging the “policing gap” by strengthening or temporarily assisting local police forces during critical contingencies.
One of the Centre’s key responsibilities is to develop and maintain NATO standards for stability policing. Its custodianship of “STANAG 2638”, a NATO publication on the replacement and reinforcement of indigenous police forces, underscores its role in shaping the Alliance’s approach to these critical operations.
In addition to its doctrinal work, the NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence provides a wide range of training and education programs, such as the Battlefield Evidence Institutional Level course or the Preserving a Crime Scene in NATO Operations course, among others.
These are designed to equip military personnel and police officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support stability policing operations. The Centre also conducts research and development activities, exploring emerging trends and challenges in the field and developing innovative solutions.
Beyond its core functions, this Centre plays an active role in fostering international cooperation and collaboration. It hosts courses, workshops, conferences, and training events that bring together experts from NATO nations, partner countries, and international organizations. As an example, in March 2024 the Centre hosted the workshop Stability Policing and the Drones’ War: New Challenges for NATO Countries’ Law Enforcement Agencies and Internal Security Architectures; its outcomes will be soon published as a standalone book. These gatherings provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking, and the development of joint initiatives.
The NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence has recently expanded, and it has established a new branch focused on innovation, concept development, and experimentation, enhancing its ability to adapt to evolving security challenges. The Centre has also launched research projects on topics such as hybrid warfare, human trafficking, and the role of Stability Policing in relation to the use of drones in hybrid warfare contexts.
On September 26th, 2024, the Centre will host the international conference Stability Policing within NATO: rethinking the paradigm to address future security challenges. The conference aims to kick-off the revision process and update the Allied Joint Doctrine for Stability Policing (AJP 3.22), gather insights from NATO authorities, stakeholders, and experts, share innovations in concepts and best practices, and chart the future of stability policing within NATO. The event will feature technical and scientific panels, presentations of research findings, and the introduction of a new trilogy of books on stability policing.
In 2025, this Centre of Excellence will focus, as a general area of interest, on Human Security.
As the NATO Stability Policing Centre of Excellence continues to evolve, it remains committed to its mission of promoting stability and security in conflict-affected regions. Through its training, research, and support activities, it plays a vital role in helping NATO and its partners address the complex challenges of the 21st century.
