Australia Police Hold Investigative, Prosecutorial Skills Training

In a partnership to enhance investigative and prosecutorial skills in combating the rapid increase in crime in the country, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are facilitating a training programme in Suva this week.

The training started on Monday at the Suvavou House. It is attended by police investigators, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Fiji Revenue and Customs Services (FRCS) staff and ODPP prosecutors.

Officiating the event, acting Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci said: “The training is designed to assist investigators and prosecutors understand information gathering and litigation under the Proceeds of Crimes Act.”

Training is divided into two sessions

AFP senior liaison officer, Detective Superintendent Adrian Morton expressed that specialised training for Fiji will provide investigators and prosecutors effective tools in handling areas of money laundering and asset confiscation.

“The AFP has embraced the philosophy that following money and taking assets will reduce the ability of crime syndicates to profit from the crimes,” Superintendent Morton said.

“With the two workshops running this week, we look forward to the engagement that each agency will assist investigators and litigators to enhance the forfeiture of assets of those who benefit from conducting the crime in Fiji.”

Acting DPP, Nancy Tikoisuva highlighted there was a need to build capacity to enhance such skills to control the exponential crime rate.

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