The Commissioner of Police, Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, says ties between the Fijian and Australian Federal Police (AFP) have been strengthened with the presence of a liaision officer in Fiji.

He made the comment in Suva as he and senior mem­bers of the Fiji Police Force bade farewell to the Aus­tralian Federal Police’s Fiji and Pacific Liaison Officer, Superintendent of Police Brett Kidner.

Superintendent Kidner’s three-year term came to an end this past week and over the years he has been the key liaison officer between the Fiji Police and the AFP.

The two institutions have had numerous successful joint operations in tackling transnational crimes and disrupting the illicit drug trade which not only had the ability to negatively im­pact both countries, but the Pacific region.

Australian Federal Police Superintendent of Police Brett Kidner and Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho in a farewell and welcome event recently. Photos: Fiji Police Force

Superintendent Kidner had been working closely with the Transnational Crime Unit, CID and Intel­ligence Unit throughout his three-year term and worked closely with Fiji Police offi­cials in bringing training opportunities to Fiji for Pacific Island law enforce­ment agencies.

Brigadier General Qiliho said working with Super­intendent Kidner had been a great experience and he would be missed.

“The Fiji Police has a great working relationship with the AFP and Superin­tendent Kidner has come to not only be a comrade, but a close member of the Fiji Police Force family and we wish him well, but we also don’t want this to be a good­bye as we are sure to meet again during the course of our duties,” he said.

The Commissioner and the senior hierarchy also had the opportunity to meet the incoming AFP Liaison Officer, Detective Superin­tendent Glen Fisher, who previously held the post of Coordinator Crime Opera­tions (Queensland).

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