AFP members have returned to Australia after working with Samoa Police, Prisons and Correction Services (Samoa Police) to deliver a safe and secure 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
AFP officers and technical specialists deployed to Apia for CHOGM, alongside Pacific police officers as part of the inaugural Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG). The AFP also assisted in funding deployments of police from Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu through Samoa's Pacific Community for Law Enforcement Cooperation (PCLEC).
AFP Commander Phillipa Connell acknowledged the major operation undertaken by Samoa Police for the Pacific region's historic CHOGM event.
"The work by Samoa Police to ensure the safety and security of the VIPs, delegates and the community was a credit to their capability and planning," Commander Connell said.
"The AFP is proud to work with Samoa Police and has been guided by Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo to provide the capabilities, training and infrastructure to deliver a safe Pacific CHOGM.
"This builds on the collaborative work we have conducted with Samoa Police for the past 15 years and will continue to do so into the future."
Commissioner Auapaau said: "I am proud that we have been able to bring the Pacific law enforcement family and particularly the PPSG to Samoa for CHOGM. I am very thankful that the AFP, as they have for 15 years, have supported Samoa beyond our existing partnership with the deployment of specialists and supporting the regions deployments".
Endorsed at the Pacific Islands Forum in August, the PPSG is a pillar of the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), which is a collective regional response to ensure peace and security across the Pacific.
The PPSG is a deployable police force to boost capability across the Pacific by providing assistance when requested by Pacific countries during major events or in times of crisis.
The inaugural PPSG deployment included more than 40 police officers from 11 Pacific countries working together under the direction of Samoa Police, and operationally led by an officer from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).
Commander Connell said the PPSG, as part of the PPI, would build on a tradition of cooperation and support between Pacific law enforcement agencies.
"The first deployment of the PPSG is a significant milestone in an initiative to improve capability and cooperation among Pacific police forces, for the benefit of all Pacific countries," she said.
"The AFP is very proud to work closely with our Pacific partners to overcome the current and future challenges that threaten to arise across the Pacific. Sharing resources and building joint capabilities among Pacific law enforcement agencies is vital for improving the security of communities across the region."
In addition to personnel, the AFP also assisted Samoa Police with:
- Providing Samoa Police officers specialist police tactical group training with the AFP's Tactical Response Team in Canberra;
- Funding a new state-of-the-art Emergency Radio Network (ERN) to ensure first responders can communicate effectively in times of crisis;
- Launching the Safer City CCTV Network and Samoa Police Operations Centre alongside the Samoa Police to further improve crime prevention and community safety;
- Providing capability building in training in close personal protection, drone pilot training, first aid, bicycle police operations and bomb search training; and
- Providing six vehicles, 15 new motorcycles, 20 new bicycles, more than 40 motorcycle helmets, 50 pairs of motorcycle gloves, and more than 100 first aid kits and training for the Samoa Police Traffic Unit.
Through the SAPP, which recently marked 15 years of collaboration, the AFP provided operational support, training programs and strategic collaboration for the milestone event.
