Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Deputy Commissioner Dr Philip Mitna and AFP Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan have today (21 March, 2025) opened the Pacific Policing Initiative's (PPI's) first Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE) to provide the Pacific with police recruit and investigations training.
The training and development facility in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the first of four RCOEs planned across the region. It comes under the umbrella of the PPI and will provide professional development opportunities to police across the Pacific.
The PPI is a Pacific-led, Australian-backed initiative, building on decades of Pacific police cooperation to empower the Pacific to respond collectively in times of need.
Located in Port Moresby, the RCOE will serve as a training and development hub, with specialised courses developed and led by Pacific police, to share unique capabilities in the fight against cross-border law-enforcement challenges, including crime and emerging events.
The Australian Government has provided funding to develop and support the centre, which will ensure the PPI delivers on the aspirations of Pacific countries and supports PNG's sovereign capabilities.
Assistant Commissioner Ryan said this first RCOE demonstrated the strength of Pacific police partnerships.
"The Regional Centre of Excellence is a critical and necessary step in bolstering the region's law-enforcement capabilities," Assistant Commissioner Ryan said. "The AFP is proud to be part of the official opening of the PPI's first RCOE and to deliver a significant milestone in our efforts to support and enhance policing operations in the Pacific region.
"Crime has no borders and the collaboration boosted through this RCOE will continue to ensure law enforcement is boosted through training and capability uplift.
"This work, shared between Pacific police partners, is vital for enhancing the security of communities across the region and for collectively countering evolving regional security threats."
