Operation Tuituia - New Zealand Police Deployment To Leave For Timor-Leste

New Zealand Police National

A deployment of 25 New Zealand police officers is due to leave for Timor-Leste on Tuesday morning, 11 July, where they will assist with the international efforts being made to restore the rule of law.

The Operation Tuituia team will leave from Whenuapai air base in Auckland and will arrive in Dili on Wednesday morning where they will remain for three months.

They are being deployed as part of New Zealand's official development assistance programme.

Assistant Commissioner Jon White, International Service Group, said Police will work alongside the New Zealand Defence Force and other international police in Dili on law and order related activities.

"New Zealand has considerable experience in providing policing services internationally, having deployed to the Solomon Islands, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan in recent years.

"In Timor-Leste, we will be primarily engaged in community policing work. Police will be working to build relationships to help restore the confidence of local people in Dili," Assistant Commissioner White said.

Grant O'Fee, District Commander of the Tasman Police District, will be their commanding officer. He will carry the rank of Assistant Commissioner while on deployment.

Superintendent O'Fee said the 25 officers have been drawn from a number of police districts and represent a broad range of skills and ranks. They are primarily general duties officers and include seven women.

"The team represents a wealth of policing experience and knowledge which I am sure will be appreciated in what is currently a difficult policing situation."

Superintendent O'Fee said the team had undergone pre-deployment training and would be briefed in Auckland on Monday, before their scheduled departure on Tuesday."

ENDS

© Scoop Media