9 Mar 2015

Tongan police minister not clear on relationship with commissoner

7:56 am on 9 March 2015

The Minister of Police in Tonga says he needs to clarify how his relationship with the new commissioner will work once he arrives.

The appointment of New Zealander Superintendent Steve Caldwell has now been given royal approval but a request for contractual changes around termination conditions has delayed his arrival.

The Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa says there are two areas he wants to address with Mr Caldwell when he starts.

Mr Tu'i'onetoa says one is building up public confidence in the police and the second is clarifying who the Commissioner will be answerable to.

"Independency of course is very important. I do understand independent coming from my background as Auditor-General but coming into the police, certain things there I do not understand how the principle of independency and the accountability work."

The Tongan Police Minister, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa.

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Photo: files