Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services (SPPCS) have begun training in Close
Personal Protection (CPP) with a Train the Trainer component being added for the first time.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are delivering the first phase of the CPP training to
assist Samoa Police with its ongoing development and preparations leading up to the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) next year 2024.
The AFP have been the long term partner of the Samoa Police in the delivery of CPP training
which is being coordinated through the Samoa Australia Police Partnership (SAPP) and
represents the first of a suite of training being delivered in support of CHOGM.
CPP Training Team Leader Sergeant Graham Wilson of the Australian Federal Police
elaborated on the program.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for us to come out here and learn from the Samoa Police and
for them to learn from us. We are delivering a two-week program. The first week focused on
theory, and introducing concepts we will practice” said Sergeant Graham Wilson.
Sergeant Graham further added, “The second week will see participants apply the concepts
and principles to CPP, through a minor and a major exercise.”
Some of the participants are first-timers in the area and the CPP trainer says they hope to see
substantial development from them.
“It is anticipated that the members will pick up the information quickly and will apply it in
practical and work through the major exercise and will display all the skills that they would
need to be deployed for Close Personal Protection.”
Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services Acting Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu
Afamasaga in a brief opening this morning expressed his gratitude towards Australian
Federal Police (AFP) Senior Officer to Samoa Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans and
the AFP through the SAPP for the ongoing support rendered to SPPCS to boost members’
capabilities in this significant area.
Leiataua also praised AFP for its commitment to ensuring the Samoa Police, Prisons and
Corrections Services are well equipped and resourced. This will enable them to perform their
duties at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The AFP have committed to providing training in CPP, bicycle operations, basic bomb search
and public order management in advance of CHOGM which will complement the drone
training, first aid training and funding of the motorcycle rider training which has already been
delivered.

AFP Senior Officer Detective Superintendent Daniel Evans says he is thrilled to have the
AFP team over for this significant program.
He said “this is a major milestone in the training uplift being planned with the Samoa Police
for CHOGM. The AFP and Samoa Police have been working side by side under the Samoa
Australia Police Partnership for the last 14 years and have a lot of experience working
together in preparation for major event with assistance provided in the preparation for SIDS
and the Pacific Games also. Evans stated that the Samoa Police maintain a very high standard
in CPP and says the AFP team is looking forward to working alongside the Samoa Police in
the weeks ahead.
This is the first training of Close Personal Protection conducted out of 4 programs panned out
for 8 months with Samoa Police to continue the training through its new trainers.