In a milestone move for regional law enforcement, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Pacific Police Chiefs unveiled two advanced training and development facilities in Brisbane, reinforcing security across the Pacific.
AFP Commissioner Kershaw praised the Hub as a cornerstone for Pacific law enforcement cooperation, stating,
“This facility embodies our shared commitment to enhancing security and countering evolving threats across the region.”
The Pacific Policing Initiative’s (PPI) Pinkenba Hub and Pinkenba Training Centre were inaugurated by AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC MP, with representatives from 14 Pacific Island nations attending the ceremony, including Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.
The event featured a symbolic flag-raising ceremony representing all 22 members of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP).
The Pinkenba Hub, now headquarters for the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG), will drive police training and operations, offering secondments, leadership programmes, and strategic coordination. It has already hosted over 200 Pacific police officers for courses in operational safety, investigations, and public order management since its activation in July 2024.
RPNGC Commissioner David Manning echoed these sentiments, highlighting the PPI’s role in fostering unity:
“The PPI allows us to pool expertise and resources, strengthening our collective response to Pacific policing challenges.”
The adjacent Pinkenba Training Centre is a cutting-edge facility tailored to prepare officers for real-world scenarios. It features a simulated house, a multi-level training environment, and a dark scenario space, all reconfigurable for diverse operational needs. Virtual training rooms further enhance its capabilities.
Members of the PPSG, a multinational deployment group, will undergo rigorous training at the centre to prepare for events like Samoa’s 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where they were previously deployed.
Endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum leaders in August 2024, the PPI represents a united front to address shared challenges. Its three pillars—Regional Centres of Excellence, the PPSG, and the Pinkenba Hub—form a comprehensive strategy to transform policing capabilities.
“The PPI is by the Pacific, for the Pacific,” Manning said.
“It ensures that together, we can secure our communities and overcome complex, evolving challenges.”
The Pinkenba Hub and Training Centre stand as powerful symbols of regional solidarity, ushering in a new era of enhanced law enforcement for Pacific nations.
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