A recently signed partnership between the Australian Federal Police (A.F.P.) and the Samoan Police force aims to improve local services, particularly in response to cyber crimes, authorities say. 

The latest deepening of the relationship between the two Police forces was confirmed by the Acting Commissioner of Police and Prisons, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo with the Samoa Observer.

Auapaau said he signed a four year plan designed to enable the Australian Federal Police to provide capacity building for Samoa’s local Police Service. 

He said that a virtual signing ceremony was held on Friday with the head of the A.F.P. Commissioner Reece Kershaw. 

Commissioner Kershaw, was formerly the Northern Territory Police Commissioner before taking on the national role. 

The A.F.P. is Australia’s national policing agency; its role is to protect Australians and Australia's interests from serious criminal threats.  

The Acting Commissioner of Samoa’s Police added that the partnership between them and the A.F.P. is of great significance because this will mean very important assistance will be provided for Samoa. 

“This is part of our long term plans or goals: getting assistance from the Australian Government through the Australian Police can assist the Ministry [Police and Prisons] through capacity building but also other plans to improve the service offered by the Ministry,” he said. 

He mentioned that one of the areas that the partnership offers is to help in enhancing the investigative services provided by the Police Ministry.

“And not only to help us through investigations but also with the digital aspects that we are dealing with such as cyber-crimes and issues that we are now facing.

“I think this is a very important partnership to share their knowledge and also they have purchased equipment for the Ministry.

“And it is to also help our team with capacity building but they are offering a lot help to us.”

Auapaau added that it is our vision to be prepared when coping with situations or crimes that may arise, so that when something happens we are fully equipped with our response.

“But we do not want to wait only until when something happens that we will try and prepare for it, we want to ensure that we have the capacity to respond accordingly."