South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference
Police Chiefs from 21 member nations will attend the 32nd South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference in Brisbane this
week. The Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Mick Keelty will host the Conference which has the theme
"Terrorism - the wider law enforcement context".
"The Conference provides an opportunity to further enhance the already existing collegiate effort made by all Conference
participants to secure a safer South Pacific Region", said Commissioner Keelty. "It is critical that all regional police
forces continue to work collaboratively to address the crime and security issues that face us as individual nations and
as a region. Transnational crimes such as terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking can only be combated through
a collegiate approach."
Keynote speakers will include Mr Clive Williams, Director of Terrorism Studies at the Australian National University. Mr
Williams is a specialist on terrorism and politically motivated violence and is Head of the Terrorism Intelligence
Centre.
There are indications that some Pacific Island countries are experiencing the earliest stages of Amphetamine Type
Stimulants (ATS) related criminal activity. The New Zealand Police has recently completed an assessment on the
trafficking of ATS in the South Pacific. At the Conference the New Zealand Police Commissioner, Mr Rob Robinson, will
discuss the outcomes of that strategic assessment and propose a South Pacific regional ATS strategy for adoption by all
member countries.
Updates on regional security issues, such as identity fraud, illegal trade in endangered species, small arms control,
finance intelligence units and electronic crimes will be presented to the forum. Commissioner Keelty said, "The
enhancement of the region's capacity to combat the threats from national and international criminal activity is clearly
in the regions economic, social and security interests."
An outcome from the Conference will be endorsement of a Strategic Plan for the SPCPC for the period 2004-2007 which will
have a charter 'To promote the efficiency, effectiveness, capability and integrity of all aspects of policing in the
South Pacific Region'.
The South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference was founded in 1970 when police representatives first met to formalise
liaison among police in the South Pacific region.