Media Release
Release Date: Saturday, December 15 2012, 07:26 AM
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the New Zealand (NZ) Police have joined forces in a bid to reduce domestic violence in the Pacific region.
The two agencies signed a formal agreement in Wellington earlier this week to more cooperatively address this crime type, linking together through the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Program (PPDVP).
The PPDVP is a joint initiative of the NZ Aid Program, NZ Police, and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police that aims to increase the capacity of these agencies to tackle instances of domestic violence.
AFP Pacific Police Development Program Coordinator Superintendent Frank Clair said the agreement is an important step.
“Working with the PPDVP, which has established procedures and processes in place, allows the AFP to meet our commitments in the region and to support the overall enhancement of police services in the northern Pacific,” Superintendent Clair said.
“This is the first such agreement between our Police Services and it demonstrates our common interests in working with Pacific police and their communities.”
To help put this agreement into practice, an AFP officer will work with Micronesian police services including the Republic of Palau the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Work will include establishing specialised domestic violence units, training police staff and building partnerships with non-government organisations that support victims of domestic violence.
The four year agreement between the AFP and NZ Police will commence on 1 January 2013.
