Fiji and Australia sign agreement to boost police training, forensics, and cross-border operations

Fiji Police Force Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw have further strengthened ties, committing joint support to cross-border operations and law enforcement cooperation in the Pacific.

The two Commissioners signed a new Memorandum of Understanding in Suva Fiji on behalf of their respective agencies, focusing on continuing and building upon the long-standing partnership between the two Forces.

Police say the AFP will support Fiji Police uplift projects including information sharing, coordinating operations across all transnational crime and priority issues as well as corporate support leadership and professional development.

They say the AFP will also provide Strategic Advisers to embed within the Fiji Police Force to assist across multiple capabilities including intelligence gathering, human resources and strategic operational planning.

Police as part of the agreement, they have committed to hosting a Regional Centre of Excellence in operational field forensics under the Pacific Policing Initiative.

They say the Regional Centre of Excellence will be built to enhance Fiji Police’s forensic capabilities through delivery of specialist police training and operational support.

Police say the centre will focus on enhancing and training members in world leading forensic techniques and it will offer specialised training based on priority areas including recruit training, investigations, specialist investigations, operational forensics and analytical forensics.

Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says the signing of the new formalized agreement heralds a new dawn between traditional law enforcement partners based on mutual understanding and respect.

He says the visit by the AFP Commissioner has been a wonderful opportunity to engage and strengthen networking at the strategic level, deepening their shared understanding of common security challenges within the region and the policing profession.

Tudravu says the longstanding partnership between the Forces has always been based on respect and the shared understanding that they are stronger when working together under the Pacific spirit of solesolevaki in protecting the Pacific region from the growing threats of transnational crime.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw says the agreement signalled a new era of support which continued the successful collaboration between police in both Fiji and Australia.

He says they have had members posted to Fiji as liaison officers and advisors for more than 20 years.

Kershaw says the embedding of Australian Federal Police Strategic Advisors is a continuation of this mutual commitment to help ensure safety and security in the Pacific.

He adds they are incredibly proud to continue decades of partnership and to deliver such a significant milestone in their efforts to support and enhance policing operations in the Pacific region.