Apec security on trial

 By HELEN TARAWA
Preparations for security measures at the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation forum have commenced with over a year before the international event in 2018.
The first search workshop is currently underway and initiated by the Papua New Guinea-Australia policing partnership (PNG-APP) together with the Australian Defence Force.
Detective Superintendent Apec planning and capability team Shane McLennan said the preparations were going well but it was early days and there was a lot of work to be done.
He said the Airways Hotel was one possible venue but there would be a number of other meeting venues and also accommodation venues which were yet to be decided.
The officers from the PNG-APP yesterday demonstrated some of the equipment that would be used in searching for bombs or anything placed in cars or flower gardens.
He said this was the first workshop and there would be many similar types of events to come.
The workshop is funded by the Australian Defence Force.
An Australia company, Explosive Protective Equipment, along with experts from Australian Federal Police and the army are facilitating the four-day workshop.
Members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Defence Force and security managers from local hotels where the Apec delegates will stay are attending the workshop.
The workshop will assist with the planning for Apec and highlight security requirements.
Topics covered include an overview and challenges from G20 Brisbane, search planning, search equipment, improvised explosive devise disposal and equipment demonstrations.
The demonstration yesterday at Airways Hotel highlighted the special search equipment available as used by the Australian Defence Force, the New Zealand Defence Force, and other agencies including Australian federal, state and territory police, as part of the ongoing preparation for 2018 Apec summit.