12 Dec 2005

Australian police in Nauru to move around on bicycles

12:24 pm on 12 December 2005

The Australian police called in to help rebuild Nauru's police services intend putting the local officers on bicycles to help them relate to the community.

Four Australian Federal Police, headed by Commissioner, Allan Ross, were posted to Nauru a year ago after the island's Government requested assistance.

Mr Ross says the Nauru force had become disconnected from the community and the people were no longer able to depend on it.

"So what we are working through with the police service is to take them out of motor vehicles and put them into technology, if you like, that is more appropriate so that they are with the community. An example we would have is there are a number of bicycles on order so that police can move around and see the community and talk with them and find out what their concerns are about law and order in their area, and see what the solutions are."

Nauru's Police Commissioner, Allan Ross.