17 Jan 2018

Samoa PM against routine arming of police

4:14 pm on 17 January 2018

Samoa's police minister, who is also the prime minister, says arming police officers was not an option while they performed their normal duties.

Samoa police graduates

Samoa police graduates Photo: RNZI Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was responding to a question about a school of thought that American Samoa police should be armed following a recent shooting in the territory.

Tuilaepa said the current practice of arming police only when on raids that were considered dangerous and could pose a threat to their lives will remain the norm.

And he said he still believed that a major role of village matai councils is to police the actions of villagers to ensure no criminal activity happens.