Afghan police corruption funded by UK aid

A watchdog report has found millions of pounds worth of British aid funded police brutality and corruption in Afghanistan.

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact gave the UK's aid programme an "amber-red" rating, stating that the government lacked a realistic approach to building a viable Afghan state before the country fell to the Taliban.

It found Britain's commitment to partnership with the United States led to some poor choices on the use of UK aid, and further questioned the use of £252 million for funding counter-insurgency operations run by the Afghan police.

A portion of the available funds appear to have funded "police corruption and brutality, including extortion, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial killings", said the report.

Since 2001, £3.5 billion of British aid has been sent to Afghanistan. The commission said British aid money funded corruption at the highest level of government.

Collings Solicitors

Altrincham

0161 928 5558