FPPP Meeting

The Fiji Police Partnership Programme (FPPP) Management Committee (PMC) met yesterday at the Fiji Police Headquarters to review work conducted under the 4 thematic areas of Investigations, K9 development, training and leadership.

The New Zealand Police delegation consisted of the FPPP New Zealand Police Team leader Senior Advisor (S.A) Mark Pakes and S.A Jasmine Woollett and from the NZP International Services Group (ISG) ?Inspector Dave Rose - Manager Overseas Assistance Programmes and Deb Scott - Program Manager.

The Fiji Police delegation included the Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACP) Livai Driu, Director International Relations SSP Ulaiasi Ravula, Director Training SSP Aseri Nakibo, Deputy Director Operations – Acting Superintendent of Police (SP) Aqela Tuirewa and Assistant Superintendent of Police Ulaiasi Tamanisau.

The four thematic areas covered under the NZ Government assistance to the FPPP, are the Development of Investigative Interviewing Capability, Development of General Patrol capability (K9), Asset Recovery Support and Development of Leadership and Governance.

Senior Advisor Mark Pakes outlined a number of achievements made which included the compilation of training booklets, and the revamping of training curriculum which saw the number of officers completing Qualifying courses double within a short span of time.

Enhancing Investigative Interviewing capabilities has seen the training of more police officers with the use of Video Recorded Interview Rooms (VRI), the installation of more VRI’s, and designs also drawn up for mobile VRI’s for outer stations that can also be converted to mobile command centers.

A significant achievement has also been the setting up of a Green Room, a designated space for victims of sexual offences and gender based violence, in line with organizational efforts of improving responses and the handling of GBV victims.

S.A Pakes also outlined the work conducted by NZP K9 and Dog specialists with both the Fiji Detector Dog Unit and Fiji Police Dog Unit.

Earlier this year a new kennel facility was opened in Nasese, and scoping work has been carried out looking into the needs of K9 Units in the West and Northern Divisions. Under the FPPP, Fijian Police K9 handlers have also been provided training opportunities at the New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre with three officers presently undergoing training, and are expected to graduate in November.

In the area of Development of Leadership and Governance, a lot of work has gone towards empowering women in policing not only within the organization, but with other stakeholders and at the regional level through Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Women’s Advisory Network (WAN).

Senior Advisor Jasmine Woollett has been working with the FPF WAN group in visiting women officers in the five policing divisions.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACP) Livai Driu said the FPF is grateful for NZP’s continuous support, adding the ease of working together is based on mutual respect and understanding between the two organisations.

ISG Manager Overseas, Inspector Dave Rose said, “We are here in support of what you need, not here to tell you what you need, and walk with you on your journey.

Thank you also for looking after our team, the work achieved so far is a testament of your willingness to work with us”.