The Acting New Zealand High Commissioner, Peter Shackleton; Detective Penisimani Sili, Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee and Police Inspector Meleane Taueli

A Victim Service Unit to provide a safe place for victims of crimes to make their complaints and be interviewed by Police Officers was opened at the Nuku'alofa Central Police Station on November 1.

Detective Penisimani Sili said that the new unit, located on the ground floor of the police station will provide a safe place for victims, to make their complaints and be interviewed in private by police officers. 

The  Unit is also a step taken by the Tonga Police to enhance public confidence.

He said it is timely that this unit is set up because apart from the domestic violence unit which has its own interview room, the rest of the crimes are usually dealt with at the front lobby of the station.

Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee opened the newly furnished two-room unit which was funded under the Tonga Police Tripartite Program between Tonga, Australia and New Zealand.

He said sometimes police officers forget that victims of crimes are the most important persons because they are the ones who deal with the results of the offending.

"It is essential that police officers respect and treat victims like their own family. It may be someone whose umbrella got stolen at the market which may be nothing to us but we still got to show them respect, make them feel like they are cared for and treat them with decency. If we do this 80 percent of our complaints will disappear," the Police Commissioner reminded police officers.

Present at the opening, were representatives from the Tonga National Women Centre for Women and Children, Women's Crisis Centre, Magistrates Court, Salvation Army and the Acting New Zealand High Commissioner Peter Shackleton.