Tonga has far too many road deaths caused by bad driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, said Chris Kelley, Tonga's new Police Commander, who has seen seven road deaths here during his first six weeks on the job.

Speaking to Tonga's Chamber of Commerce yesterday evening, November 20 at Club Kelly, he said that during the past weeks the police force had stopped a few village shops from selling alcoholic drinks. He also suggested that a driving school would be one way of curbing bad driving, and that a certificate from a driving school should be a requirement when applying for a driving licence.

The road deaths were just one of a number of issues that had concerned him very much, since taking up the job in October.

But Police Commander Kelley, a New Zealand police officer for 42 years, reasserted that regaining the trust of the community in their Police Force remained a top priority for the Tonga Police Force.

He explained that the police belonged to the community and their presence there was to be part of the community who should feel that they "own" the police, who are working for them.

Deportees

Another big concern is the number of "hardy criminals" who had been deported from overseas countries and were arriving in Tonga without the knowledge of the Tonga Police Force.

He said that most deportees were overstayers, who overstayed their visas. He said that the Tongan police had been trying to make contact with their overseas counterparts so that they were informed and given some background information about certain criminals who were arriving in Tonga.

Drug trafficking

Drug trafficking was another matter of concern. Chris said that some of the drugs that were stolen from the Ministry of Health pharmacy warehouse recently had been confiscated in New Zealand, "and that shows that Tonga is part of an international drug trafficking ring."

Other concerns such as illegal firearms and house breakings were raised but he was adamant that the priority concern for him and the Tongan Police Force was to restore the trust of the public in their Police Force, and part of the strategy to achieve that was to send out policemen into the community, "for them not to just stand on corners but to make contact with members of the public."

Chris said that they are starting with this Public Relations exercise in the Nuku'alofa area, but eventually it would be extended out to throughout the country.