Pacific police chiefs have endorsed a new constitution establishing the Pacific Community of Policing (PACPOL), bringing existing regional policing arrangements under one structure to strengthen cooperation on security and policing priorities.

The constitution was endorsed on Wednesday at the 53rd Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) Conference in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Tonga was among the participating members.

The change brings the PICP and the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under a single, Pacific-owned organisation, with the focus now shifting from design to implementation.

What does this mean for Tonga?

For Tonga, PACPOL provides a new regional framework for working with other Pacific police services on shared security challenges.

The initiative is intended to strengthen coordination, policing capabilities, training and operational cooperation. However, the announcement does not detail specific changes to Tonga Police operations, resources or services.

Tonga Police authorised delegate Tevita Vailea backed the initiative, describing it as a new era of Pacific-led policing built on unity, trust and shared responsibility.

He said Tonga Police remained committed to working with regional partners to strengthen security and protect communities.

Who will lead PACPOL?

Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Commissioner David Manning was elected PACPOL’s inaugural chair, while Tuvalu Police Commissioner Matatia Makaili was elected deputy chair.

A single Chiefs Leadership Board will replace the separate governance arrangements previously used by the PICP and PPI.

The existing PPI Hub in Brisbane and the PICP Secretariat will transition into the PACPOL Hub and Secretariat, respectively, to maintain continuity during the change.

What happens next?

The endorsement establishes the constitutional foundation for PACPOL’s governance, decision-making and regional priorities. The next stage is implementation.

The practical impact for Tonga and other Pacific countries will depend on how the new organisation translates regional commitments into cooperation, capability development and operational outcomes.

The initiative follows more than 56 years of regional policing collaboration and is guided by the principle: “By the Pacific, for the Pacific.”