Kokopo police complete protection training in preparation for APEC

The Vunapope Cathedral came alive with loud feet stomping, accompanied by brief salutes in attention as the Kokopo police personnel proudly walked up to their superiors to claim their certificates.

This marked the brief closing ceremony that was held last Friday after a rewarding 2 weeks of training for the Kokopo Royal PNG Constabulary.

“I have been absolutely blown away by the skills that you have brought to this course,” said AFP trainer Inspector Andrew Davies.

The AFP told Loop PNG that the provincial close personal protection training is part of the ongoing PNG-Australia Policing Partnership supported capability development program, in preparation for the APEC 2018.

Representative for the Kokopo RPNGC unit, Sergeant Peter Malana, said: “I believe this course is the first of its kind, here in East New Britain”.

“This course runs for 5 weeks but we did it within 8 days.

“We are prepared for the big event (APEC) that is coming up,” he said.

“You are a privileged few,” said the ACP for NGI, Anton Billy, when reminding the officers who took part on the importance of the training.

The close protection training offered theory and practical exercises in the areas of close protection mind set, protective formations and walkabout drills, providing for the safe movement of protected persons as well as conducting route/site surveys and emergency action drills, said the AFP.

Trainings eventually culminated in a major practical exercise where RPNGC participants were required to conduct operational planning and operational briefings, relevant to a protection scenario, similar to those required during the APEC 2018.

The training in Kokopo was facilitated by the AFP through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Policing Partnership.

AFP supplied four fully-qualified and experienced close personal protection trainers. This included two in-country PNG-APP advisors and two Australian-based AFP members to deliver the Train the Trainer style programs to the RPNGC.

All trainings offered are anticipated to assist in the development of an effective RPNGC close personal protection capacity, all in preparation for the APEC 2018, said the AFP.

(Gift-giving to the AFP close personal protection trainers in Kokopo last Friday.)

Author: 
Fiona Silo