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Strengthening the Pacific's Crime Fighting Capabilities

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News, speeches and media

Media Release

MEDIA RELEASE

A major Australian policing initiative to support the Samoa Police Service
(SPS) is being launched in Apia today.

To operate over five years, the AusAID funded $9 million Samoa Police Project
has been designed to strengthen the operational, administrative and
investigative capacity of the SPS.

A mentoring and training program will build leadership and management skills
throughout the SPS and will assist the Government of Samoa to further reform the
SPS.

A robust, accountable, transparent and efficient SPS is a critical ingredient
for Samoa's national security and longer-term development.

The project will fund a new combined Police Headquarters and Central Police
Station, and a community education campaign to encourage greater police
engagement with the community.

The project will also complement the recently established Australian- led
Pacific Regional Policing Initiative (PRPI), first announced by the Prime
Ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji at the Pacific Islands Forum in
August 2003.

The PRPI, to be implemented over five years, represents a significant
long-term commitment to regional policing by the Australian Government with
funding of approximately $17 million. This includes a contribution of NZ$2.5
million from the New Zealand Government.

Based in Suva, the PRPI will support the region's efforts to fight crime and
corruption through the establishment of a 'Virtual Academy' that will coordinate
and deliver training to police across the Pacific. Mobile training teams will
also travel throughout the Pacific delivering improved standardised
training.

In addition to strengthening the Pacific's crime fighting capabilities, the
initiative will also strengthen regional policing strategies and foster regional
networking and the pooling of regional resources.

Effective policing is critical in underpinning regional security, good
governance and economic progress in the Pacific.

Media inquiries:
Chris Kenny (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 or 0417 206 890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489

Last Updated: 25 February 2013
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