Pacific Islands chiefs of Police are invested in key areas to improve policing and outcomes across the region.

The Pacific Community for Law Enforcement Cooperation (PCLEC), a regional delivery mechanism that supports capability development in law enforcement priority areas as directed by the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP), will meet in Rarotonga early next week.

PCLEC’s objective is to become the coordination and capability development mechanism of choice for Pacific police organisations and their external partners.

Inspector Catherine Tye and D/Superintendent Kat Polkinghorne, both from the Pacific Asia Command, and Australia Federal Police (AFP), are in Rarotonga undertaking the preparation work in advance of the PCLEC National Coordinators conference.

Cook Islands Police Inspector Solomona Tuaati, is the PCLEC National Coordinator.

Taking part in the conference will be 15 Pacific Police agencies, who are involved in the Pacific Community Law Enforcement Cooperation network.

The PCLEC members are the Pacific countries under the umbrella of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police organisation, which has a Secretariat based in Wellington, New Zealand.   

PCLEC’s goal is to become the coordination and capability development mechanism of choice for Pacific Police Organisations and their external partners.

The Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police has set an eight-year timeframe from 2020 to achieve three critical outcomes: That Pacific Police lead the design and delivery of operational engagement, and the development of capabilities that its member organisations need.

It has also set out to ensure external partners deliver their capability development support in coordination with PCLEC, in order that all support provided is coherent and meets the needs of Pacific Police, and that the PICP and its member Pacific police organisations manage and administer PCLEC.

The meeting will be held over three days, opening next Tuesday December 5 at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium, and will involve 17 countries from around the region, including Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.