CRIMINAL investigators at the Tonga Police Services are being trained in the art of forensic digital photography using the latest equipment provided by the Australian Federal Police, during a workshop in Nuku'alofa, starting May 10.

The eight days training is conducted by Peter Webster the Program Manager Middle East and Pacific Forensic and Date Centre at the Australian Federal Police, and Greg Carnell from the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Six Tongan police investigators are being exposed for the first time to the use of sophisticated equipment such as a SLR Digital camera, and computer scanning that would help in their investigation and provide courts with accurate evidence they could trust.

Also taking part are three criminal police investigators from Timor-Leste, Samoa and Solomon Islands.

Tonga Police Commander Chris Kelley said the training provides a foundation for his investigators to be up-skilled in forensic digital photography, which is an essential part of their investigation process.

The Commander pointed out that the training is also part of the Police Organisational Development as outlined in the Tonga Police Strategic Plan and he was grateful to Australian Federal Police.

Camera skills

The training provided investigators with skills to properly take digital photos and to capture true imagery of a crime scene, which is for the benefit of the courts.

"In the digital age we are now living in the court expects the evidence of skilled experts before it and this training would deliver that because it would improve skills and raise the bar of our criminal investigators. And I expect that my officers would come out with a good competency in crime scene skills," he said.

Peter Webster said it was vital that Tonga Police acquired the best standard in digital camera training, understand its procedure and confirm that evidence captured is not manipulated.

The Australian Federal Police is also giving the Tonga Police new camera kits, a computer and burner valued at AUD$50,000. It is expected this aid would also extend to other parts of the Pacific.

A follow-up workshop for Fingerprint Experts in the Pacific would be held later this month in Nuku'alofa.