Samoa Police boosts Close Personal Protection capabilities

APIA, SAMOA – 20 JULY 2023: Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services (SPPCS) have begun training in Close Personal Protection (CPP) with a Train the Trainer component being added for the first time. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are delivering the first phase of the CPP training to assist Samoa Police with its ongoing development and preparations leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October 2024.

The AFP have been the long term partner of the Samoa Police in the delivery of CPP training which is being coordinated through the Samoa Australia Police Partnership (SAPP) and represents the first of a suite of training being delivered in support of CHOGM.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for us to come out here and learn from the Samoa Police and for them to learn from us,” elaborated the CPP Training Team Leader Sergeant Graham Wilson of the Australian Federal Police.

“We are delivering a two-week program. The first week focused on theory, and introducing concepts we will practice. The second week will see participants apply the concepts and principles to CPP, through a minor and a major exercise,” he explained.

Some of the participants are first-timers in the area and the CPP trainer says they hope to see substantial development from them.

“It is anticipated that the members will pick up the information quickly and will apply it in practical and work through the major exercise and will display all the skills that they would need to be deployed for Close Personal Protection.”

Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services Acting Commissioner, Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga expressed his gratitude to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Senior Officer to Samoa Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans and the AFP through the SAPP for the ongoing support rendered to SPPCS to boost members’ capabilities in this significant area.

Leiataua also praised AFP for its commitment to ensuring the Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services are well equipped and resourced. This will enable them to perform their duties at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The AFP have committed to providing training in CPP, bicycle operations, basic bomb search and public order management in advance of CHOGM which will complement the drone training, first aid training and funding of the motorcycle rider training which has already been delivered.

AFP Senior Officer Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans says he is thrilled to have the AFP team over for this significant program.

“This is a major milestone in the training uplift being planned with the Samoa Police for CHOGM,” Evans said.

The AFP and Samoa Police have been working side by side under the Samoa Australia Police Partnership for the last 14 years and have a lot of experience working together in preparation for major event with assistance provided in the preparation for SIDS and the Pacific Games.

Evans stated that the Samoa Police maintain a very high standard in CPP and says the AFP team is looking forward to working alongside the Samoa Police in the weeks ahead.

This is the first training of Close Personal Protection conducted out of 4 programs laid out for 8 months with Samoa Police to continue the training through its new trainers.