Multimedia: On the Water

Release Date: Tuesday, August 17 2010, 11:16 AM

Deputy Commissioner National Security Peter Drennan recently took part in the handover of a patrol boat to the Vanuatu Police Force to further enhance the country’s policing capabilities.

The handover was made possible by the Vanuatu Police Force Capacity Building Project, which began in February 2006 as a joint Vanuatu-Australian Government initiative.

The police vessel is valued at $1 million and will be based in Santo, North Vanuatu. It has the capability to travel 400 nautical miles with the capacity of four crew and twelve passengers.

Deputy Commissioner Drennan said the Vanuatu Police Force Capacity Building Project represented a vital part of the work the AFP was undertaking in strengthening law enforcement in the Pacific.

Ten AFP members have been deployed to Vanuatu to work collaboratively and effectively with the Vanuatu Police Force in the fight against transnational crime in the Pacific region.