Pacific Policing Initiative

The Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) concept

The PPI is a Pacific designed, PICP endorsed, and Australian Federal Police supported initiative that has the potential to be transformational for Pacific policing.

The PPI concept has been consulted broadly with members of PICP and shared broadly with diplomatic stakeholders. It includes three pillars:

·      regional training centres of excellence to be located in the Pacific,

·      a Pacific Police Support Group which would provide a multinational response capability, and

·      a hub that would help support the establishment and coordination of the regional centres of excellence, and training and support for the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG).

Building on decades of close law enforcement cooperation, the PPI will enhance the region’s ability to address security challenge outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security.

The PPI would help ensure that Pacific police forces have the capability they need to meet current and future internal and regionals security requirements, and to respond together quickly in times of need.

Successfully delivering this initiative will be a huge collective undertaking and presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform how our Pacific police support each other.

PPI design and consultation process

At the PICP annual conference in August 2023, discussions commenced on the development of a regional training facility and a multinational deployable police capability, which became key pillars of a PPI concept. The aim was to help meet collective policing needs and build a regional response to shared challenges.

After further discussions between Police Chiefs and Commissioners at a PICP monthly meeting in October 2023, a PPI concept paper was developed and circulated to all PICP members in November 2023.

The PICP and its members have regularly updated the Pacific Islands Forum Subcommittee on Regional Security (FSRS) on PPI progress, including the Acting Commissioner of the Fiji Police Force in December 2023, the Chair of the PICP in April 2024, and the Executive Director of the PICP Secretariat in June 2024.

The PICP Executive Leadership Team considered the PPI concept at its regular meetings throughout 2024.

In May 2024, the Commissioner of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary was appointed as the Chair of a Design Steering Group (DSG), with nominations sought from PICP members for participation in the DSG.

On 22 to 23 May 2024, the Fiji Police Force and the Australian Federal Police co-facilitated a workshop of senior Pacific police officers who nominated to join a PPI Design Advisory Group.

A Design Steering Group meeting of Pacific Police Chiefs was held on 10 July 2024, attended by PICP members from PNG, Fiji, Vanuatu, Nauru, and Samoa, and supported by Australian Federal Police officers.

A second Design Advisory Group workshop was held in Brisbane on 30 July to 1 August, hosted by the Australian Federal Police.

In July and August 2024, 33 police personnel from 10 PICP members attended proof-of-concept PPSG training on public order management and close personal protection in Brisbane to inform the design process.

On 22 August 2024, a second virtual Design Steering Group was held, chaired by PNG, and attended by members from Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Nauru.

On 28 August 2024, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ commended the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police for their work and endorsed the PPI. Leaders noted the need for further national consultation on how Members engage with the PPI and directed the development of an implementation plan.

At the 51st PICP Annual Conference on 3 to 6 September 2024, PICP members received a brief on the PPI design process from the Chair of the Design Steering Group, and provided feedback on, and subsequently endorsed, a PPI Design Overview.

Additional PPI Design Steering Group and Advisory Group meetings will take forward the PPI design, taking into account feedback received at the PIF and PICP meetings. This will include developing a PPI implementation plan to support Pacific island countries’ ongoing national consultations.

For more information please contact PPI-Coordination@afp.gov.au.

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