Cook Islands policing scrutinised

Policing in the Cook Islands could be in for a shake-up.

The reorganisation is expected after Rob Robinson, New Zealand's former commissioner of police, completes a review of the island nation's police department.

Assisted by Paul Fitzharris, a former high-ranking police colleague, Mr Robinson will spend three months investigating police systems in the islands.

A New Zealand barrister, Kristy McDonald, QC, will advise the review team on legal issues.

Funded jointly by NZAid and the Cook Islands Government, the review is the result of a meeting Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai had with Prime Minister Helen Clark at the Pacific Islands forum leaders' meeting in Papua New Guinea last October.

Mr Marurai asked for an experienced police officer from New Zealand to review Cooks policing methods.

Mr Marurai, who is also Minister of Police, hinted that there could be personnel changes in the department's upper echelons after Mr Robinson reported his findings.

Winston Peters, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced the review in a statement yesterday saying it will assess the effectiveness of the police and recommend ways to provide a cost-effective and improved service.

Mr Robinson, who arrives in Rarotonga tomorrow, said: "While there are increasing expectations from the community of the service their police provide, there is also an increased awareness of the need for national security and other high-end services to also be delivered."