Training for Tonga Police, Defence and airport staff aiming to better coordinate their responses in major operations was held from July 20-21, at Police headquarters in Longolongo.

Two trainers from New Zealand’s Maritime Police, Sgt Dene Duthie and Senior Sgt Martin Page,t led the training that was aimed to achieve effective coordinated incident management across responding agencies. The workshop helped establish common structures, functions and terminology.

Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said it is important for agencies to work together, share knowledge, experience and learn from their mistakes after every major disaster, so as to improve their work and be ready to respond in times of major operations.

Known as the Coordinated Incident Management System for safer communities (CIMS) through integrated emergency management, the training included police, fire services and emergency, HMAF, Air Terminal Services and Air New Zealand staff.