Shane McLennan

Learning that among Commissioner’s five points of focus are: Tonga Police functions as one team, same team, and the frontline must be supported, serves to empower and renew the commitment of the Vava’u Police staff, who serve at the frontline.

A Police statement said the visit last week was also an opportunity for Commissioner McLennan to lay emphasis on the important issue of custody management, which coincided with the custody management training delivered for the Vava’u Police staff at the same time as the visit.

He follows three New Zealanders in the role.

When being briefed by members of the Tonga Police Senior Executive on the range of policing services undertaken by Tonga Police, the Commissioner was keen to understand the difficulties faced by officers across Tonga.

Commissioner McLennan was sworn in by the Chief Magistrate Folau Lokotui after arriving in the country on May 11.

RNZ Pacific reports the Commissioner has a broad policing career that spans over 40 years, having commenced with the Queensland Police Service as a police cadet at the tender age of 15.