Tonga Police Commissioner attended the Pacific Islands Chief of Police Conference ^Featured

It was the first in-person meeting since 2019 because of COVID restrictions, allowing the Police Chiefs to exchange information, share learnings, and form regional agreements under the theme, “Workforce Wellbeing and Resilience.”

The meeting was chaired by Fiji Police Force Commissioner, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qilihilo, the host of the 49th PICP Annual Conference.

Prior to his attendance at the conference, Commissioner McLennan has initiated work to promote and improve Tonga Police members’ health and wellbeing in the workplace.

In addition to reviewing relevant policy, Commissioner McLennan and his Senior Leadership Team are looking to recruit someone that can provide chaplaincy and counselling services to support staff welfare and wellbeing.

However, the conference presented him with an opportunity to learn from other Chiefs. “I was keen to learn what other Chiefs and jurisdictions have in place around the theme, that is, any new ideas that may add-value and help build Tonga Police to become a healthy and resilient workforce.”

Commissioner McLennan’s attendance at this regional forum reinforces Tonga Police’s connection with the Pacific. Significant gains were also made where he was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the PICP, and as a highlight for him and Tonga Police, was awarded for Tonga to host the 51st PICP Conference in 2024.

The PICP was founded in 1970 in Suva, Fiji, and is one of the oldest regional bodies in the Pacific. Over the past 50 years, the PICP has worked collaboratively to build safer and more secure communities within the region.

At its meeting at Nadi this year, the PICP also had the chance to mark a milestone for two of its priority programs, including the 20th Anniversary of the Pacific Transnational Page 2 of 2 Crime Network (PTCN) and the 10th Anniversary of the Cyber Safety Pasifika (CSP) Program.

The PTCN is an initiative established in 2002, which now consists of 28 Transnational Crime Units (TCUs) based in 20 Pacific Island countries, and the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC) situated in Apia, Samoa.

The network provides proactive criminal intelligence and investigative capabilities to combat transnational crime within the region using a multi-agency and regional approach.

The Serious Organised & Transnational Crime Unit is Tonga Police’s operational arm that works within this network, maintaining Tonga Police’s situational awareness as well as strengthening its link to the Pacific region.

The Cyber Safety Pasifika Program on the other hand, aims to increase cyber safety awareness in communities within the region, enhance the abilities of Pacific Police officers to investigate and disrupt cybercrimes, and help to establish networks between local law enforcement, social media companies, and other agencies.