INTERPOL Port Security Project – Physical security of port infrastructure training |09 April 2022

The officers in a souvenir photo with guests after the certificate presentation ceremony (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

Local agents learn more on law enforcement techniques regarding harbour security

Port security is a top priority since all those enforcing the laws and regulations have to secure it from any threats and illegal activities, while at the same time facilitate the flow of legitimate trade travel, Commissioner of Police (ComPol) Ted Barbé has said.

He made the statement yesterday afternoon at the graduation ceremony of 18 local officers from various law-enforcement agencies who successfully completed a one-week capacity building and development training in regards to port security and infrastructure.

The training was led by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) with help from the National Crime Investigative Services (NCIS) under the European Union-funded Port Security Project (PSP).

The project is coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and implemented jointly with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Through this project, Interpol provides a set of sustainable tools to all relevant maritime security stakeholders in the region in order to make a long-term difference to port security.

It is aimed at developing a regional mechanism for information sharing and the exchange of actionable data, and reinforces the response capacity of law enforcement agencies to address existing vulnerabilities and counter persistent and emerging threats.

As such, this initiative delivers specialised training modules, regional operational exercises, country-to-country exchange visits, on-site mentoring sessions, and the provision of equipment and access to Interpol's databases backed up with robust technical support.

The training gathered officers from the Seychelles Police, Customs Services, Immigration Division, Port security and the Seychelles Coast Guard.

In the presence of Marcus Paes and Lorenzo Lattanzi from the Interpol’s Maritime Security Sub-Directorate, NCIS instructors Charles Carl and Lawrence Fiorillo, chief executive of the Seychelles Port Authority (SPA) Ronny Brutus and the Commissioner of Customs Paul Barrack, ComPol Barbé noted that constant training and collaboration with other port authorities in the region are vital in achieving success.

He added that acquisition and of knowledge and skills, together with appropriate equipment and use of technology will certainly help the officers in performing their duties.

On behalf of the Interpol, Mr Paes noted that incidents and criminal events are not the endgame for law enforcement agents, maritime and port authorities, but only the beginning of a long process of investigation in order to bring the suspects to justice for a successful legal finish.

He explained that to effectively do so, together with protecting maritime sovereignty and critical port infrastructure, we must overcome visible and invisible barriers that hinder the capacity of the various agencies involved to cooperate.

Mr Paes also noted that in some instances, it is very common to agencies working in silos; while on the other hand, criminals sit comfortably at the table and work freely together, exploiting our shortcomings in terms of resources, legal framework and especially lack of cooperation.

He encouraged the agents to learn from that situation and find no excuses for their imperfections and to rather focus on how to achieve outstanding results with whatever is available to them.

The PSP aims to boost the know-how of law enforcement techniques regarding harbour security, physical security of port infrastructure, installation surveillance, and checkpoint practices for the detection of narcotics and other illicit goods, develop deeper understanding of various international methodologies and procedures related to port security, increase knowledge of safety and security measures for port facilities, set up a regional network of well-trained port security experts, extend access to the Interpol databases, enabling countries in the region to better retrieve and disseminate vital information, and also to increase the capacity to collect, input, analyse and exchange critical sets of information that will ultimately be recorded in Interpol databases and information systems for further exploitation by all our member countries.

Roland Duval