Pacific Patrol Boats project

Between 1987 and 1997, the Australian Defence Force provided 22 patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island countries (all of which are PICP members), primarily to help protect the countries’ fisheries. They are supported by the Australian Defence‐led Pacific Patrol Boat Program, which provides training and associated infrastructure necessary for the countries to manage their boats.

In nine of the participating countries, the Pacific Patrol Boats (PPBs) are managed by police. In 2005 the Secretariat was tasked to undertake a project to:

• help expand the role of the patrol boats from just protecting fisheries to wider law‐enforcement purposes
• promote cooperation between the relevant agencies, both within and between countries, such as customs, police, the military and immigration
• link the Pacific Patrol Boat Program to the Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN), to improve intelligence sharing and development across the Pacific.

Activities

• The PICP has delivered a workshop on Intelligence and Exhibit Handling, which aimed to increase the capabilities of PPB operators in detecting and dealing with transnational crimes.
• An Investigator Aide pocket booklet has been produced, a practical field reference on conducting investigations at sea. This covers taking statements, handling evidence and intelligence, with key phrases translated into 25 languages.