Photos by LInny Folau.

Tonga Police fronted by its women officers held its first Open Day to mark International Women’s Day 2016, today 8 March, connecting with youth and encouraging students to look at a professional career in policing.

The Police Force plays an important role in serving and protecting the community and the Open Day was held "so students can understand the breadth, volume and depth of the work of police," said Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki, the keynote speaker at the event, held at Police headquarters in Longolongo and attended by 7th form students and tertiary students from Tongatapu, along with invited guests.

A former Education Minister, Dr ‘Ana thanked the Ministry of Police for its untiring efforts in carrying out its central role of law enforcement while stressing the importance of police responsibilities to serve, protect, investigate crime, be involved in the community, respond to calls of emergencies and do administrative work. She said for Tonga to have a sustainable society it must make sure that it has the best police and to have that it must encourage the best of young people especially young women to choose police work as their preferred career choice.

"We are marking International Women’s Day and Tonga Police provides the same opportunities for men and women..…we need more strong women to work in the police," she said.

Trust and confidence

Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said a community survey told them their role and mission is to increase the trust and confidence of the public in Tonga Police.

He said by large the result is very positive but still they needed to do more work to connect with young people, which is a challenge for policing around the Pacific and internationally, "connecting with our young people and keeping them safe in an extremely fast moving society that we live in."

He advised youth to set their goals high and to support their dreams with hard work. "Respect yourselves and other people, and the police are there to keep you safe.

"Today we are not only marking International Women's Day but we are opening the door because we are the people’s police, we come from the people and we must serve and keep you safe to the best of our ability," he said.

He also encouraged the secondary school students who attended to think about policing as a career. "We need the best to be the best," he said.

Tonga Police first admitted women in 1970 and today has 102 women in its total staff of 420.  There are 11 women commissioned officers and 13 women non-commissioned officers. "In my time here they are the backbone of Tonga Police and I thank them for their professionalism," Police Commissioner Caldwell said.

Open-day

The Police Open Day was a way forward to promote greater understanding of the work of its various departments and specialist roles, while looking into the professional life of the women of high caliber and experience that have served and are still serving in the Tonga Police.

Displays from various police units included a police dog show, viewing the Search and Rescue boat, experiencing use of radar machine and breathalysers as well as an opportunity to take part in a crime scene investigation, activities with the Forensic Investigation Team. Information was given to students about the Cyber Safety Program, along with contact numbers for police services, including the emergency reporting line "922"  or "771-9800" in the police intelligence section.