Marines hand checkpoint to Afghan police

ROYAL Marines in Afghanistan, have handed control of a Helmand checkpoint to local police, in another step towards Afghans taking over security in the region.

The Afghan Uniformed Police have taken charge of the post in Chah-e-Mirza from the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

For the past nine months, the checkpoint has been manned jointly by Isaf and Afghan policemen.

However, since April, members of B Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, who are attached to 45 Commando Royal Marines based in Arbroath, have been responsible for the checkpoint and the development of the police who live and work there.

Over the last eight weeks, the Gurkhas have conducted more than 100 partnered patrols with the police in the area.

They aim to provide security and protection to the many villages nearby, and to try and deter any insurgent activity in the area.

The commanding officer of the 45 Commando Royal Marines Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee said the transfer was a significant step forward early in their fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan.