Leadership training for 22 Tongan Police officers focused on accountability, authority and responsibility is being held in ‘Eua and Ha’apai.

Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell introduced the training for all police officers , beginning in Tongatapu in February last year.

He said that since the start of the training there has been a shift in police mind-set and attitude towards how they exercise powers and authority according to law in solving problems and making decisions in their everyday duty.

"Tonga Police is to protect and serve, uphold the rule of law, keep the peace and have the ability to investigate crime when it occurs."

"In addition, our mission statement is to earn the trust and confidence of the people of Tonga through our service to the community, and we are all judged by our deeds and not words," he said.

The training which ends in July is a three-stage development process that included face-to-face training, behavioural change aspect among other sessions conducted by nine officers who were trained as trainers, and facilitated by consultants, Steve Longford and Greg Phillips from New Intelligence, Australia.

The training programme is funded by the Tonga Police Development Program financed by the New Zealand and Australian Government.