A Mu‘a Community Police Station constructed at a cost of $976,353 pa'anga was opened by Prince Tungi on March 10 at Tatakamotonga.

It was the fourth station built under a tripartite Tonga Police Development Program (TPDP) funded by Australia, and New Zealand with Tonga.

Tonga's Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said they were extremely grateful for the assistance from the New Zealand and Australian governments, which had included the provision of new uniforms, firearms, vehicles, CCTV and ongoing training.

He said Tonga Police could not function without their contribution and they had a long way to go in their reform, to achieve their aim of regaining the trust of the Tongan public.

"I understand the challenges ahead of us, but people should not underestimate our resolve to put these changes in place. We will have setbacks but we will achieve our objective, so I ask for you patience," he said.

Professional service

Superintendent Amanda Kates from the Australian Federal Police said the 220.8sq metre building has three cells and eight office areas.

She said the program was aligned with the Tonga Police Strategic Plan to professionalise Tonga Police and ensure it has the respect and confidence of the community

“In every training program now police officers are educated to occupy positions of trust and confidence and are afforded awesome authority to carry out their duties. But any excessive use of that authority or abuse of power reduces and destroys their credibility within the communities they serve,” she said.

The contract for the construction was signed in July last year carried out by Oregon Pacific International Co. Ltd with Architecture Vava'u.

TPDP was launched in July 2008 with the aim of improving Tonga Police and to build an efficient and trustworthy police force. It was due to expire on October 31, 2013 but the multi-million dollar aid project was renewed for another three-years, with New Zealand and Australia providing assistance.

The program has built police stations in Vaini, Pangai and 'Eua, with a new Nukunuku police station to open soon.