Samoan police leaders to UK training on post-pandemic response challenges

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 02 AUGUST 2022: Three senior officers of the Samoa Police, Prisons & Corrections Services are off to the United Kingdom for training on tackling post-pandemic challenges.

Tavete Tusani, Efo Moalele and Lafi Matautia were farewelled this week by the Ministry and the British High Commissioner to Samoa, HE David Ward.

According to Ward, the training will give future police leaders the skills to respond to challenges and threats posted by future pandemics.

“And we’re seeking to strengthen police cooperation to give the police officers both the skills they need in their everyday policing and also the awareness and the risks of international and transnational crimes and skills and contacts that they need and to be able to tackle those threats effectively,” he said.

The Samoa and UK police officers exchange has been in place for more than 10 years.

The Samoan officers will be in the UK for a one month course in police leadership skills where participants will meet and exchange with the British and police officers from other countries.

Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, British High Commissioner HE David Ward, three selected senior police officers for UK training and top police management officers.

The programme is funded by the United Kingdom Regional grant to promote security and stability in the Pacific and also gives participants the exposure to the different challenges of policing in unique urban and rural environments.

“Samoa will have its’ own unique security challenges and the objective of this course is to give the future leaders of Samoan police, the skills they need to respond to those challenges in the future,” Ward added.

In the past two years, governments all around the world have had to introduce new legislations to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic that was never enforced before.

For instance, requirements to wear masks and social distancing and it’s been a challenge for police everywhere who are tasked to enforce these legislations to be able to do so effectively and maintain public support.

Part of the training is for the officers to be able to learn new skills in overcoming these challenges.