In a significant move to strengthen regional security, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Forum Leaders today in endorsing the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), a transformative regional strategy aimed at enhancing the collective peace and security framework throughout the Pacific Islands.
The Pacific Policing Initiative is designed to elevate the law enforcement capabilities of Pacific nations, ensuring they are better equipped to handle law and order challenges and internal security threats.
The PPI has three pillars:
*Up to four regional police training Centres of Excellence, located in the Pacific, to enhance policing capabilities through specialist training and operational support for Pacific police personnel.
*The Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG) – a multi-country police capability, with a ready pool of trained Pacific police to deploy in response to Pacific country requirements, such as for major event management or additional capacity in times of crisis.
*A PPI Policing Development and Coordination Hub to be hosted in Brisbane – including access to state of the art AFP facilities for training and to prepare for any PPSG deployments.
PM Albanese announced Australia will commit approximately $400 million (US$272 million) over five years to ensure the PPI delivers on the aspirations of Pacific countries.
“This policing initiative continues a long history of Pacific police forces working together to strengthen regional peace and security, and to support each other in times of need.
“Pacific leaders are working together to shape the future we want to see – improving capability, cooperation and interoperability among Pacific police forces benefits all Pacific countries and the security of our communities.
“This is a Pacific-led, Australia-backed initiative, harnessing our collective strengths. We are stronger together.
“The security of the Pacific is the shared responsibility of the Pacific region and this initiative benefits each of our nations,” PM Albanese said in Nuku’alofa.
He said Australia’s contribution will include infrastructure costs associated with new policing Centres of Excellence in the region.
The PPI is a practical contribution to the Pacific Islands Forum’s peace and security vision outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and it builds on the recent experience of the Solomons International Assistance Force.
Discussions on an integrated regional policing capability were first held at the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police meeting in 2023.
Pacific police are finalising a PPI design process that ensures this initiative will be by the Pacific and for the Pacific.
