AN ARMY officer who has fought in the world’s toughest war zones is back in Afghanistan to train policemen.

Lieutenant Colonel Adam Griffiths, from Fernham, near Faringdon, is leading a team of soldiers responsible for training and mentoring Afghan policemen in Helmand Province.

Since joining the army in 1991, the father-of three has toured Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland.

Last night the 41-year-old, who was awarded an MBE for services in Iraq in 2004, said he was looking forward to his latest challenge.

He said: “Our role is to oversee the development of the capacity and capability of the Afghan National Police.

“This task is critical to the future of the security of Helmand Province as well as the wider Afghanistan.

“The police must be able to function effectively on their own.”

Lt Col Griffiths is based in the town of Lashkar Gah, with his unit, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (known as 5 Scots).

The air assault infantry battalion has taken over Helmand’s police development advisory training team.

Members of the Afghan National Police are being trained to a high enough standard to take over security from British and Nato troops.

Lt Col Griffiths, who lives with wife Sara and children Charlotte, 14, Mimi, 12, and Archie, eight, said: “I am looking forward to seeing, not only the numbers of policemen increasing, but also the quality and reputation of the Helmand police developing.

“5 Scots has trained hard for this deployment and is looking forward to the role and the focus on policing.

“We take over an ongoing and vital task which is evolving and developing daily.

“I suspect the next six months will be defined by a period of continuity as well as consolidation as we strengthen the capability and develop the capacity of the police in Helmand.”

There are now about 106,000 fully-trained Afghan national policemen in Afghanistan, with 134,000 planned for the end of 2011.

5 Scots have taken over responsibility for training police from soliders of the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment.

Their commanding officer, Lt Col Andy Hadfield, said: “This has been a challenging, sometimes frustrating, but satisfying six months.

“Police development is now moving forward apace and we must keep the faith and continue to work to hand a safe and secure Afghanistan back to its people.”