Criminals beware, you are now being watched as the Samoa Police and Australian Federal Police launched the  Safer CCTV Network that will keep an eye on hotspots around Apia.

It comprises 30 CCTV cameras, a monitoring room, and the Emergency Radio Network and is part of an investment of around SAT$12 million (AU$6.5 million) that will assist Samoa over the next three years to fund improvements in infrastructure and technology.

While some cameras have been installed, the rest will be installed and operational before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.

The Samoa Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, spoke at a ceremony commemorating the 15-year partnership between the Samoa Police and the AFP. 

The partnership has resulted in the signing of the AFP Samoa Police Technical Partnership, aimed at enhancing national security and emergency response capabilities for the safety of the people in Samoa and the wider Pacific region. 

"This room will monitor all the cameras that will be installed in certain areas in town that will assist us in CHOGM and the near future," Auapaau told the media.

He emphasised that consequences will also apply to people who intend to damage these properties.

He also highlighted that other emergency sectors within the Government will benefit from this initiative, such as disaster management opertion, the fire service and the health system.

The partnership was also initiated in response to a critical situation where the Emergency Radio Network was found to be nonfunctional in many areas, posing a significant risk to national security, especially with the upcoming CHOGM that Samoa is hosting in October. 

This came after a review that was conducted by the AFP in 2022 where they noticed the need for these technology upgrades for Samoa.

The project was funded by the Australian Government after a comprehensive review that was conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The Australian Federal Police's Assistant Commissioner Nigel Ryan expressed excitement for the collaboration and emphasised its importance in supporting local law enforcement efforts. 

 These enhancements will strengthen communication and coordination for emergency response systems, not only for the Samoa Police but also for other government ministries.