Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

131129-MR-Bougainville Police rewarded for learning

29 November 2013

Bougainville Police Graduate from Investigation and Prosecution Courses

The people of Bougainville will be supported by better police investigators and police prosecutors following the graduation of 23 students from intensive training today.

The advanced investigations skills and prosecutions courses were provided by Royal PNG Constabulary trainers and supported by Australia through the PNG-Australia Law and Justice Partnership.

Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Vice President, the Hon Patrick Nisira, and Minister Counsellor, Development Cooperation, at the Australian High Commission, Mr James Hall officiated at the graduation and law and justice recognition event in Buka.

They were joined by senior representatives of the Bougainville Administration, Bougainville Police Service, and other high-ranking law and justice sector officials as well as donor and partner representatives from the New Zealand Police and United Nations Development Program.

“The rule of law and an effective justice system is fundamental to economic and social development of Bougainville and to its democratic system of government,” Mr Hall said.

“These graduations are important and powerful symbols of dedicated people sharing a commitment to peace and to the delivery of law and justice services to the people of Bougainville.”

Prior to the training Bougainville had no qualified detectives. Following a rigorous assessment process and recognition of prior learning, 11 Bougainville Police graduated today, including two women, one of whom, Sheena Cook, achieved second place on the advance investigators course and was rewarded.

This means that there are now Bougainville police, from across all three regions that are qualified to become detectives. The training was provided by Royal PNG Constabulary trainers from the Bomana training centre of excellence.

Mr Hall, who will visit the recently opened Police Family and Sexual Violence Unit, commended the Bougainville Police Service for committing resources to support and protect victims of family and sexual violence.

“Eliminating family and sexual violence is a critical area that requires the attention and commitment of all of us - whether we are working in government, as magistrates, in corrections, or for non-government organisations,” Mr Hall said.

“When half of Bougainville’s total population are at very high risk of violence, this fundamentally undermines the development of the whole of the community.”

Australia’s support to rebuild law and justice services in Bougainville includes renovations of the Buka Police Station, construction of the courthouses in Buka and Buin and a temporary courthouse in Arawa. Australia has also built housing for law and justice service staff and provided a training centre that is for the first time providing joint training between the Bougainville Police Service and members of the Community Auxiliary Police as well as other law and justice agencies.