National consultation meetings between the Tonga Police and members of the public started at the Tonga Police Force HQ, in Nuku'alofa yesterday, January 6.

Assistant Police Commander, Siope Soakai Motu'apuaka told the gathering, of mainly District and Town Officers from Nuku'alofa and the nearby villages that their meeting was the first of such consultative gathering, which will be held in towns and villages throughout Tongatapu and the outer islands of 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou.

Restructuring police force

He said that the consultation exercise would enable the Police to know what the public was expecting of them and the information gathered would help in their planning to restructure the Tonga Police during the next four years.

Soakai later clarified that the three areas that they are working on was a new structure, a strategic plan, and an amendment to the Police Act 1968.

"Our deadline is that we will present a report to government by April for their approval. Most important for us is for the community to know that they will have the ownership of the Tonga Police Force."

Since the riots and the burning of Nuku'alofa in 2006, and the appointment of a new Police Commander, Chris Kelly earlier this year, the Tonga Police Force had initiated a number of community out-reach programs to try and restore the trust of the community in their police force.

There were a number of issues raised during the meeting yesterday, ranging from a lack of respect by the public of police officers, to the authority of community police, and whether or not the police should be carrying a baton and hand-cuffs, and should Tonga increase its police force and their salaries.

With regards to a loss of respect of the police officer by the public, Soakai said that the police was partially responsible for this deterioration, "when it is obvious inconsistency in their enforcement of the law. For example, they would stop a group of youth from drinking at the waterfront at Popua, then they are seen drinking with a group of people at the waterfront at Sopu. The public then begin to mistrust their police."

Community Police

With regards to the community police, there were conflicting views. Some believed that community police help keep the peace, while others believed that there could be a looming problem, "because legally the community police has no authority, to even stop a suspicious vehicle that drives through the village late at night."

On other issues, such as for the police officers to carry a baton and hand-cuffs, there was a consensus that it would be good for the image of the police, since ordinary security guards could carry a baton, handcuffs and even a walkie-talkie.

The meeting concluded by agreeing that there was a need for the Tonga Police to be restructured to be in line with the Tonga of the 21st century.

Historic

Soakai said that they aimed to produce a four years business plan and annual plan for the Tonga Police and the consultation was historic "with the police going to the people of Tonga to hear their views. We will be working hard to accurately capture the public's perceptions and expectations."

The consultation team is led by Soakai. with the assistance of Caterine Cotter of the New Zealand Police, Glynn Lewis of the Australian Police, and Dr Seu'ula Johansson Fua a consultant specialist. The consultation is supported by the Tonga Government, the Minister of Police Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, NZAid and AusAID with the Australian Federal Police and the New Zealand Police.