South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference

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.

© Scoop Media