Tuvalu Police Force

Tuvalu Police Force
Police emblem
Police emblem
Agency overview
Legal personalityPolice force
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionTuvalu
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersFunafuti
Elected officer responsible

The Tuvalu Police Force is the national Police force of Tuvalu, it is headquartered in Funafuti and includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit, Customs, Prisons and Immigration. Police officers wear British style uniforms.

Police powers and responsibilities

Main article: Crime in Tuvalu

The police service is managed in accordance with the Police Powers and Duties Act (2009) and the Police Powers and Duties Regulations (2012). The powers of arrest and search are described in Part III of the Criminal Procedure Code (1963).

The Penal Code (1965) is a codification of what crimes under Law of Tuvalu. This legislation is published online by the Office of the Attorney General of Tuvalu;[1] also by the Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute, with the law set out in the 2008 Revised Edition;[2] with a list of current legislation (up to 2012).[3]

Status under the Constitution of Tuvalu

According to the Constitution of Tuvalu,[4]

161. The Police Force

(1) An office of Commissioner of Police is established as an office in the Tuvalu Police.

(2) The Commissioner of Police shall be appointed in accordance with section 163(5)(a) (which relates to the appointment of the Commissioner of Police).

(3) Excluding the Commissioner of Police, members of the Tuvalu Police of or above the rank of Inspector (or the equivalent rank as defined by or under an Act of Parliament) maybe appointed, removed and disciplined in the same manner, with any necessary modifications, as members of the Public Service under section 159 (the Public Service).

(4) Other members of the Tuvalu Police maybe appointed, removed and disciplined by the Commissioner of Police, subject to appeal to the Public Service Commission in the case of removal or disciplinary action.

(5) The Director of Public Prosecution may initiate criminal proceedings against any Police Officer.

Tuvalu Police Force patch

Role in maritime surveillance

The HMTSS Te Mataili, a Pacific Forum patrol vessel, given to Tuvalu, from Australia, from October 1994 to early 2019.[5] Australia agreed to provide these vessels to smaller neighbours in the Pacific Forum, after the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Seas extended maritime nations Exclusive Economic Zones to 200 kilometers. Australia agreed its own security was improved if it gave its smaller neighbours vessels that enabled them to protect their own sovereignty, perform search and rescue, fishery patrol, and prevent smuggling. Australia replaced the Te Mataili with a larger and more capable Guardian class patrol vessel in April, 2019, named HMTSS Te Mataili II.[6][7][8][9]

Te Mataili II was severely damaged by cyclones in 2023.[10] On 16 October 2024 Australia handed over a Guardian-class patrol boat to Tuvalu, which was named HMTSS Te Mataili III>[11]

In May 2023 the Government of Tuvalu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sea Shepherd Global, which is based in the Netherlands, to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Tuvalu’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).[12] Sea Shepherd Global will provide the Allankay, a 54.6 metres (179 ft) motor vessel, to support Tuvalu’s law enforcement activities.[12] Allankay will accommodate officers from the Tuvalu Police Force, who have the authority to board, inspect, and arrest fishing vessels engaged in IUU activity in Tuvalu’s EEZ.[12]

Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands

Tuvalu provided police officers to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands from December 2004. Tuvaluan Police officer Fanini Maleko was the contingent commander of the Tuvaluan police serving as part of RAMSI's Participating Police Force (PPF).

Social institutions of Tuvalu

Each island has its own high-chief, or ulu-aliki, and several sub-chiefs (alikis). The community council is the Falekaupule (the traditional assembly of elders) or te sina o fenua (literally: "grey-hairs of the land").[13] As defined in the Falekaupule Act (1997), Falekaupule means "traditional assembly in each island...composed in accordance with the Aganu of each island". Aganu means traditional customs and culture.

Section 41 and Schedule 3 of the Falekaupule Act (1997) provides that “[i]t shall be the duty of every Falekaupule and of every Kaupule to use its resources to assist the police in the detection and prevention of crime within the area of its authority.”[14]

Ranks of the Tuvalu Police Force

Below is a table stating the ranks and insignia used by the Tuvalu Police Force.

Rank Commissioner Inspector Sergeant Corporal Constable
Insignia

References

  1. ^ "Tuvalu - Tuvalu Legislation On-line". Office of the Attorney General of Tuvalu. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Tuvalu - Laws of Tuvalu 2008 Revised Edition". PACLII. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Tuvalu – Current Legislation - alphabetical Index". PACLII. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Constitution of Tuvalu" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Tuvalu country brief". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  6. ^ "AUSTAL DELIVERS FIRST GUARDIAN CLASS PATROL BOAT". Austal. 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-12-01. 'The program is now in a full rate of production, with the second vessel, which is destined for Tuvalu, successfully launched on Monday with an additional three vessels in various stages of construction. Austal are already looking at export opportunities for the GCPB' Mr Singleton said.
  7. ^ "Papua New Guinea receives first Guardian-class patrol boat". Naval Today. 2018-11-30. Archived from the original on 2018-12-02. The next vessel will be gifted to Tuvalu in April 2019 and the last will go to Timor-Leste in October 2023.
  8. ^ "Australia hands over Guardian-class patrol boat to Tuvalu". Naval Today. 2019-04-06. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-07. The 39.5 meter steel hulled patrol boat was built by Australian shipbuilder Austal under an AUD 335 million program that will see 21 boats gifted to 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
  9. ^ Christopher Pyne (2019-04-07). "Guardian Class Patrol Boat gifted to Tuvalu". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2019-04-07. Te Mataili II was received by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the Right Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga at a handover ceremony attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour, the Hon Taukelina Finikaso, the Minister for Natural Resources, the Hon Dr Puakena Boreham, and the Commissioner of the Tuvalu Police Service, Commissioner Luka Falefou.
  10. ^ "Tuvalu joins forces with Sea Shepherd Global to Combat Ilegal Fishing in Pacific Waters". Department of Foreign Affairs - Government of Tuvalu. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  11. ^ Manuel, Rojoef (22 October 2024). "Australia Transfers Guardian Patrol Boat to Tuvalu". The Defence Post. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Tuvalu joins forces with Sea Shepherd Global to Combat Ilegal Fishing in Pacific Waters". Department of Foreign Affairs - Government of Tuvalu. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  13. ^ Peter Bennetts and Tony Wheeler (2001). Time & Tide: The Islands of Tuvalu. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-86450-342-4.
  14. ^ "Falekaupule Act (1997)". PACLII. Retrieved 6 April 2014.