|
|
|
|
|
PACIFIC
POLICE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO UPSKILL |
|
By Lagi Keresoma |
|
| |
Law enforcement in the
Pacific will be enhanced with the new police training programme
running at the Alafua Campus of the University of the South Pacific
in Samoa.
Samoa Police Administration Manager, Tyrone Laurenson says the
Certificate in Policing Course, is the first of its kind in the
Pacific and is a stepping stone in the right direction for law
enforcement participants.
Formalising an education programme for policing in the Pacific has
been one of the critical issues that regional leaders at the Pacific
Forum have pushed for.
The inaugural course is a joint initiative of the Ministry of
Police, Prison and Fire Services, the Pacific Regional Policing
Initiative (PRPI) in Fiji, the UniQuest Pty Ltd Samoa Police Project
(SPP) and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. The Samoa
Police Project is based in Samoa and is affiliated with the
Ministry.
There are about 100 in the current intake of the first policing
course, prepared by Dr.Rowan Marnsley, Mark Wall, the PRPI team and
the University of the South Pacific.
The course covers Contemporary Issues in Pacific Policing,
Comparative and International Policing, Police and Society in the
South Pacific, Action Research in a Police Environment, Police
Leadershop and Command Management and Ethical Dimensions in
Policing.
The current intake include twelve participants from the Samoa Police
Force from different sections of the Samoa force of which three are
women, alongside others from neighbouring Pacific countries.
The Ministry of Education has provided three scholarships for the
Samoa participants. The other eight scholarships are paid for by the
PRPI.
Those who complete the certificate have the option of moving into
the diploma or taking it further into the degree programme.
Samoa authorities say that since the introduction of general
policing course there have been a lot of changes within the Samoa
Police force. One of the changes welcomed by the public is the
roadshow programme in Samoa, which sees the police visiting
districts and conducting workshops there. |
|
 |
|
Constable Fiu Lotu Fa’aola and Elisaia Wong Kee on duty with the
new look police uniform at Samoa’s Head of State residence at
Vailele.
(Photo: Lagi Keresoma)
|
 |
Samoa police officer Kaianeta Kitiona at work at the police head
office in Apia headed by Police Commissioner Papali’i Lorenese.
(Photo: Lagi Keresoma) |
 |
|
Samoa police officers taking time out from court duties pictured
in front of the district court house in Apia. (Photo: Lagi
Keresoma) |
| |
The Samoa Ministry of
Police, Prison and Fire Services has also called upon the assistance of
non-government organisations when they visit districts. The roadshow
partnership between the Ministry and NGOs is also taken to the big
island of Savai'i. Some of the issues raised by the police are better
addressed by the NGOs and vise versa.
The course aims to enhance leadership and raise the level of management
capacity in the commissioned ranks. Another important benefit that
authorities say will help in their roles as law enforcement agencies is
that it prepares future leaders for management and senior executive
roles."
Mr Laurenson in an interview with Event Polynesia (Samoa) News Bureau,
said the course is "running smoothly." “The issues taught throughout the
course will not only develop the skills of the participants, but will
benefit the whole work force, with awareness programmes or workshops to
follow’ he said.
The Australian High Commissioner's Office in Apia has applauded the
efforts by the PRPI in upgrading the skills, and understanding of the
forces.
|
|
| |
Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
