Australia Launches East Timor Policing Initiative

We are pleased to announce a major new initiative to provide training and management development for East Timor's national police force.

Australia will work in partnership with East Timor as it continues to build an effective, professional and accountable police force. This $40 million initiative will be delivered over four years.

The maintenance of law and order will be critical for East Timor's stability and prosperity, particularly in the period following the departure of the international peacekeeping force.

The new initiative will complement and reinforce considerable Australian assistance already being provided to the East Timor police force through the participation of Australian Federal Police officers in the United Nations Police Force in East Timor.

Australian assistance will be delivered by AusAID and the Australian Federal Police. AusAID will provide training and expertise in policy development, planning and management - areas that are vital to supporting an effective police force. Targeted support will also be provided to related law and justice institutions.

The Australian Federal Police will provide training to East Timorese police officers at college facilities in Dili and in the field through the 13 districts. The AFP will work with the East Timorese police to determine high priority training needs. Priority will be given to developing the basic skills needed by police officers to deliver community policing services.

Australia will work closely with other development partners in the planning and delivery of this assistance. The United Kingdom has already agreed to provide assistance of around $700,000 this year in close coordination with this important policing initiative.

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Contacts:  Chris Kenny  (02) 6277 7500 (Mr Downer), Michael Barrett (02) 6277 7260 (Senator Ellison), Jo Elsom 02 6206 4960 (AusAID), Anne Lyons 02 6275 7100 (Australian Federal Police)