Cyber Safety Pasifika is an AFP led program and is aimed at increasing cyber safety awareness and education of vulnerable communities in the Pacific region. It is also aimed at upskilling Pacific Police officers in cybercrime investigations.
Through the delivery of various products from training, policy development and delivery support PPDP-R will contribute to the CSP mission statement of:
'Ensure that the people of the Pacific will be safe and secure by providing the knowledge to navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly, establishing strong legislation and policies, and enhancing Pacific Police investigation skills'.
The CSP Program has been delivered in 18 Pacific Island countries through local Pacific police officers and is specifically referred to in Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy, released in 2016, as an important part of the effort to counter cybercrime and to help keep children safe.
A ‘health check report’ on the program in 2015/16 led to the program expanding beyond its education focus to also encompass legislation and policy development delivered in partnership with the Pacific Island Law Officer Network (PILON) and the Australian Attorney Generals Department (AGD), as well as training and capacity development in basic cyber and technology enabled crime investigation skills.
The updated Cyber Safety Pasifika Program was launched on the 5th of May 2017 with the new program aimed at increasing cyber safety awareness of vulnerable communities in the Pacific region.
Managed by the AFP through the Pacific Police Development Program – Regional (PPDP-R) the Cyber Safety Pasifika (CSP) Program as an important part of the effort to counter cybercrime through the delivery of activities under three pillars of focus:
- Cyber Safety Awareness and Education
To ensure that communities across the Pacific will be safe and secure online our Pacific Police partners are trained to provide them with the skills and knowledge to navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly. This course delivers training to officers from community policing portfolios within their department. It is a train the trainer model so they are able to take the learnings home and train up further staff on the delivery of the CSP awareness presentations.
- Development of Cybercrime Legislation and Policy
Each year the Pacific Islands Law Officers Network (PILON) runs an annual Cybercrime Workshop to foster greater understanding of key areas of the Budapest Convention and enhance practical investigation and prosecution skills within an appropriate legislative framework. The workshop is organised by AGD on behalf of PILON, and attended by approximately 65-70 law and justice officials from PILON member countries, including Attorneys’ General and senior policy officials, as well as investigators and prosecutors specialising in the gathering and use of electronic evidence.
Complementing the activities of the PILON and AGD, the Pacific Police Policy Network (3PN) meeting will run a focus working group to address the gaps identified in the Cybercrime Policy development for each country.
- Up-skilling of Pacific Police in Cybercrime Investigations.
Delivery of a contextualised Cyber Investigations Skills Course will provide the members in attendance with the skills necessary to successfully investigate cyber and technology enabled crime. Collaboratively delivered these courses will equip participants with the methods and techniques to conduct more effective online investigations.
It is recognised that other cyber investigations skills enhancement programs exist for Pacific nations. The AFP, through ongoing engagement seeks to ensure alignment (or de-conflict) with such programs to reduce duplication of effort and enhance whole of Pacific outcomes.
The countries that take part in the program include Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Plalau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga.