CSP Cook Is.
From 13 to 21 February 2025, the Australian Federal Police (AFP)-led Cyber Safety Pasifika (CSP) program successfully facilitated both the Cyber Awareness & Education (CAE) program and the Cyber Investigation Foundation (CIF) program. Respectively, these programs aimed to equip Pacific police officers with the skills necessary to deliver digital safety community outreach presentations and effectively respond to cybercrime, thereby enhancing community cyber resilience.
A total of 29 participants from American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu took part, supported by experts from several police services and organisations.
The training sessions were interactive and tailored to address the specific cyber challenges current and emerging in the Pacific region, ensuring the content was relevant and applicable. Participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on exercises, which not only solidified their understanding but also empowered them to share their newfound knowledge with their respective agencies and communities back home.
Feedback from the participants revealed that the training was highly valuable, emphasising CSP's effective cross-sectoral approach to developing cyber capabilities. The program promoted a "by the Pacific, for the Pacific" philosophy, encouraging local police to take on leadership roles in training.
Engagement with the Cook Islands Police Service was positive, highlighted by the attendance of Acting Commissioner Akatauira Matapo during the closing ceremony. In his address, Acting Commissioner Matapo praised CSP's efforts in promoting a safer digital landscape and highlighted the significance of ongoing collaboration to safeguard Pacific communities against cyber threats.
The CSP training exemplifies the importance of regional collaboration in tackling security challenges like cybercrime, enhancing police capacities, and fostering relationships among Pacific police agencies. Overall, the training successfully positioned participants to better engage their communities and build public trust in law enforcement.
