Force seals international collaboration on training
Following the 15th Interpol Symposium for Heads of Police Training co-hosted by Training Wing and the Interpol in March, the Force took another step to enhance international collaboration on training and development on September 9 when Training Wing signed a memorandum of agreement with the Australian Institute of Police Management (AIPM).
Under the agreement, named "Faculty Exchange and Training Partnership", the Force will, starting in 2006, nominate two Senior Superintendents or Superintendents to the AIPM as Visiting International Fellows (VIF) for two weeks annually on a reciprocal basis. The nominated officers will work as members of the teaching staff at the AIPM training headquarters in Manly, Sydney.
Speaking at signing of the agreement, Deputy Commissioner (Management) Fung Siu-yuen pointed out that the Force enjoys excellent relationship with the AIPM and other internationally renowned law enforcement agencies and police training institutes. Signing of the agreement would cement partnership with these organisations more closely than before, he said.
Signing on behalf of the Force, Assistant Commissioner (Training) Tse Shu-chun said the Force always accords high priority to training and development as a means of meeting society's ever-increasing demands on law and order. "Investment in our human capital will enable the Force to continue to rise to the challenges of the 21st Century," he noted.
Mr Tse looked forward to the VIF exchange programme, and welcomed VIFs from the AIPM and other training partners to work in the Force's forthcoming Police College.
AIPM Executive Director Dr Jim Hann, who signed on behalf of the AIPM, also emphasised the mutual benefits that the VIF exchange scheme will bring to both organisations, as well as to other police services sending officers to the AIPM's management development programmes.
He thanked Senior Superintendent Bernie So, Head of Professional Development Learning Centre, for helping to bring about co-operation between the two police learning institutes.
The AIPM started the VIF exchange programme in 2003, and training partners of this programme are internationally renowned law enforcement agencies and police training institutes. These include Centrex, Scottish Police College, Metropolitan Police Service in the UK, FBI, US Drug Enforcement Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and, in the latest agreement, the Hong Kong Police Force.
The VIF exchange programme will enable the Force to share leadership and management training with the international police community. It will also benefit both the personal developments of the nominated officers and the professionalism of the future Police College.
The Force and AIPM have become close training partners