text: Chapter 8
  8-42. Countering an insurgency requires a police force that is visible day and night. The Host Nation
  will not gain legitimacy if the populace believes that insurgents and criminals control the streets. Well-sited
  and protected police stations can establish a presence in communities, which secures communities
  and builds support for the HN government. Daily contact with locals gives police a chance to collect
  information for counterinsurgents.
  8-43. Police might be organized on a national or local basis. Whatever police organization
  is established, Soldiers must understand it and help the Host Nation effectively organize and use it. This
  often means dealing with several police organizations and developing plans for training and advising each
  one. A formal link or liaison channel must exist between the HN police, HN military forces, and US forces.
  This channel for coordination, deconfliction, and information sharing enables successful COIN operations.
  Police often consist of several independent but mutually supporting forces. These may include—
  • Criminal and traffic police.
  • Border police.
  • Transport police for security of rail lines and public transport.
  • Specialized police forces.
  • Internal Affairs.
  Paramilitary
  8-44. Success in a counterinsurgency depends on isolating the insurgent from the population. Insurgents
  intimidate the population into passive support and prevent the population from providing information
  to counterinsurgent units. A technique to combat this is to establish a paramilitary organization.
  Paramilitary forces are designed to support the rule of law and stabilize the operating environment,
  particularly for when the HN police forces and military forces are standing-up organizing. Temporary
  in nature, the paramilitary unit’s mandate should be two-fold.
  • It needs to provide the population with a means of securing themselves.
  • It should have the means to gather and report intelligence about the insurgency.
  • It can sometimes be used covertly to target insurgents within higher headquarters guidance.
  Organization
  8-45. Once citizen leaders are identified, units can work with locals in organizing the paramilitary units.
  The units need to have recognizable uniforms, standard light weapons, and a salary. The salaries will take
  away from the insurgent recruitment base.
  Limitations
  8-46. Paramilitary organizations should be prevented from conducting offensive operations. They
  should also be monitored closely for insurgent infiltration or abuse of power.
  Demobilization
  8-47. Eventually, the best way to demobilize a paramilitary force might be to integrate part of it into the
  HN military or police force.
  Corrections
  8-48. If counterinsurgents seek to delegitimize an insurgency by criminalizing it, then the Host Nation
  must establish a robust corrections system. A counterinsurgency with this goal, should be provided with a
  more robust armament than in stable governments.