Pacific Islands police chiefs meet in Queensland for talks on tackling cybercrime and child exploitation

Police chiefs from 22 Pacific Islands nations meet in Queensland for a 50th annual conference and talks on tackling cybercrime and child exploitation.

The Australian Federal Police will receive increased funding for a new program of support to Pacific Island police forces.

AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw revealed details of the new program at a speech delivered to the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police forum, where top police ­officers from 22 Pacific nations are meeting in Queensland.

The forum, which has been running since 1970, encourages a ­“Pacific first’’ response to security problems in the region.

This year’s conference comes at a time of increased tension, when China is seeking to establish policing deals as part of its growing footprint across the region.

Solomon Islands has recently upgraded its policing deal with China, and Beijing is also seeking deals in other countries.

Countries including Solomon Islands, PNG, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, New Caledonia, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Australia and New Zealand are among the member nations of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police forum.

China is not a forum member.

The members of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police forum meet in Queensland on Wednesday. Picture: Australian Federal Police.

At a speech on Wednesday night, Mr Kershaw revealed the Albanese government had provided additional funding in May, which had enabled the creation of the AFP Pacific Police Partnership Program, known as the AP4.

“The AP4 provides an uplift to AFP capabilities, providing the resources to maintain our current Pacific police partnerships, bolster existing relationships, and strengthen our security threat prevention efforts within the ­Pacific region,’’ Mr Kershaw said.

“This strategic initiative has ­allowed the AFP to establish the Law Enforcement Co-operation Program, a capability fund that aims to strengthen the capability of Pacific police and law enforcement agencies through provision of specialist policing training, equipment and education.’’

He said this would foster closer links between police forces across the region and allow for more ­effective co-operation in the fight against transnational crime.

Mr Kershaw talked up the bond between the Pacific nations, saying it was “based on shared ­values and a commitment to our democratic way.’’

“The Pacific is an increasingly complex environment that faces multifaceted security challenges and a dynamic geopolitical environment,’’ he said.

“We are currently subject to a range of internal and external threats that have serious implications for our regional peace and stability.

“While our policing agencies cannot effectively respond to, or overcome, the current and future challenges alone, through a collaborative and aligned approach and our unified strength we can tackle these challenges ‘by the ­Pacific, for the Pacific’.”