The AFP has helped enhance the law enforcement capabilities of Samoa Police with the opening of a new police training facility and the launch of a first-of-its-kind First Responders Handbook.
The new training centre – made possible with funding support from the AFP-led Samoa Australia Police Partnership (SAPP) – will provide Samoa Police with the necessary facilities and resources to learn and develop their skills.
It will broaden the scope of training on offer and includes a room specifically for the Cyber Safety Pasifika program, an AFP-led program aimed at increasing cyber safety awareness and education across the Pacific.
Samoa Police recruits will also be trained at the facility, equipping the next generation of police officers with the skills and knowledge they need to serve their communities effectively.
The new First Responders Handbook offers a comprehensive guide to first response and procedures. It will serve as a tool for officers who attend crime scenes, enabling them to secure and control the scene, assess medical needs, determine facts and circumstances and ensure potential evidence is not tainted or compromised.
Detective Superintendent and Senior Officer SAPP Daniel Evans said the AFP was dedicated to collaborating with Samoa Police to enhance its policing capability.
“The AFP, through the SAPP initiative, works closely to build the capability and capacity of Samoa Police to ensure effective law enforcement and community safety,” Detective Superintendent Evans said.
“The opening of the Samoa Police training facility is a significant milestone in this ongoing effort.”
Over the past five years, the AFP has invested over WST $3.5 million (AUD $1.84 million) in Samoa Police training which includes equipment, training development and delivery.
“We will continue to fund training through regional mechanisms including the Pacific Faculty of Policing, Pacific Police Development Program, Cyber Safety Pasifika and the Pacific Transnational Crime Network,” Detective Superintendent Evans said.
Honourable Minister of Police, Faualo Harry Schuster said the new facility and handbook marked another important milestone in Samoa’s law enforcement efforts.
“This training facility will provide our officers with space to learn and develop the skills they need to carry out their duties effectively,” Minister Schuster said.
“The First Responders Handbook is a valuable resource that will help our officers respond to incidents in a professional and systematic way, ensuring the safety of the public and the preservation of evidence.
“The SAPP is a vital partnership that has contributed significantly to the development of our police force over the years. We appreciate the continued support of the AFP and Australia Government in enhancing the capabilities of our police force and improving the safety and security of our communities.”
