6 Kiwi cops bolster Cooks

Police commissioner Maara Tetava says it will be six New Zealand police who will provide additional security during this month’s Pacific Islands Forum.

Tetava says they will be sworn in as temporary Cook Islands officers.

He says most of the six officers are with the Specialist Search Unit.

”What they do is they work with my team. They go to venues to be visited by the leaders. They search it. They clear it and we lock it down until the leaders get there.“

Tetava says the New Zealand police team will also include an intelligence analyst and a radio technician.

Meanwhile, rehearsals were held this week to ensure the public behaves appropriately when the leaders’ motorcade moves around Rarotonga.

Police say no drivers are to attempt to overtake the motorcade and that oncoming traffic has to pull to the side of the road until it has passed.

Tetava says any weapons carried by security details accompanying the leaders will be confiscated at the border.