Australian Federal Police courtesy Vist

“We have a fantastic relationship with the Fiji Police Force, Government to Government relations are strong and significant over many years, and we are absolutely here to work with you”.

Reaffirming the Australian Federal Police's support towards the Fiji Police ?Force was the AFP’s Commander Pacific Elias Petropoulos during his visit to the Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew and senior officers this morning.

The visit by the senior AFP official was also to mark the opening of the new Police Mobile Force (PMF) Command Centre in Nasinu.

Upon his arrival at the PMF Headquarters, Commander Petropoulos was accorded a quarter guard ceremony of welcome, in honour of his visit to the FPF’s tactical unit.

An overview brief was then provided by the Commanding Officer (CO) PMF Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Luke Rogoyawa who outlined the work of the Unit since its inception 50 years ago.

SSP Rogoyawa said apart from providing tactical support, the Unit has ?had to branch out?, taking on new responsibilities in line with the growing demands ?on police and national security.

He added that the Unit operated under the Formed Police Unit concept, and a testament of its ?capabilities, was the ability to quickly deploy a 20 man team with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to the Solomon Islands where they remain, as part of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF) with their AFP? and New Zealand comrades.

Commander Petropoulos commended the work and growth of the Unit, impressed with the FPF's ability to adapt and respond to security threats in Fiji and the region.

He added that the work conducted by PMF would augur well with the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) supported by AFP and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP), in meeting? the ?collective needs ?of responding to shared peace and security challenges in the region.

The AFP Commander Pacific said with Fiji identified as one of the Regional Policing Centres of Excellence, the Fiji Police Force had a large pool of highly capable officers that could assist with training and the sharing of experience ?with other law enforcement in the region under the PPI.

?The Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police under the Solesolevaki MOU have committed to working together in addressing security vulnerabilities not only between the two countries, but the Pacific region.

The AFP has assisted with the setting up of three Command Centres in the Northern Division, Police Coordination and Command Center and at PMF at a cost of over half a million dollars.