AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett will use an upcoming address to the United Nations to elevate the role of Pacific Island police and push for their greater involvement in future peacekeeping missions.
In a significant first for Australia, the AFP will host the United Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS) in New York next year. The biennial gathering brings together heads of national police, ministers and senior officials from all 193 UN member states, and is held at the UN General Assembly.
The summit will bolster Commissioner Barrett’s strategy to expand the AFP’s global footprint and strengthen international cooperation in tackling emerging criminal threats across the Indo-Pacific.
Taking her advocacy for stronger Pacific policing regionalism to the global stage, Commissioner Barrett is expected to outline why empowering Pacific chiefs of police is essential in a region grappling with strategic competition and transnational crime.
She said the AFP had been working closely with partners on how Pacific nations could advance a more unified voice, including the possibility of forming a regional police bloc for multilateral engagement.
Commissioner Barrett stressed the importance of ensuring Pacific policing perspectives were heard within global bodies, especially as concerns about cybercrime, illicit commodity trafficking and organised crime continue to grow.
“The regional leadership and ambition of Pacific chiefs is clear, and their desire is for regional solutions to our shared security challenges,’’ Commissioner Barrett said.
“Pacific police are valued partners for the AFP and together we are clear-eyed and determined when it comes to protecting our region from complex criminal networks.
“It is important that we continue to build our resilience together as we counter challenges to the global rules-based order.
“Every opportunity and meeting I have, I expressly outline the value of our Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police.
“It is important we acknowledge that the dedication and hard work of Pacific police agencies have helped keep Australians safe from organised crime.
“This is why the AFP will champion and advocate for our trusted and valued Pacific police partners.
“This engagement builds on sustained AFP diplomatic efforts at the UN in New York to ensure the region’s policing perspectives are understood and reflected in UN policy settings.
“This reflects Australia’s broader commitment, championed continually through the AFP advisor’s work at the UN, to elevating Pacific policing within multilateral forums.”
Commissioner Barrett said UNCOPS would provide a timely forum to discuss the future of policing in peacekeeping, the increasing complexities of transnational crime and the need for more specialised policing capabilities.
“The AFP continues to be a strong backer for Pacific Island police to contribute more actively to international peacekeeping efforts,’’ she said.
She highlighted the AFP’s launch this year of the world’s first UN-accredited police peacekeeping program designed specifically for Pacific nations and Timor-Leste.
“At our Pinkenba facilities in Brisbane, the AFP hosted 100 participants from 11 countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste to obtain essential skills required for UN deployment.
“The training program marked a significant step forward in supporting Pacific police preparedness for UN deployments.”
Australia’s selection as host of UNCOPS 2026 follows extensive advocacy in New York, underscoring the region’s peace and security priorities.
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