Women train to make Apec safe

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
TWELVE women are among police officers being trained in tactical driving to provide security and close protection for world leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The 12 were picked from police units in Port Moresby to be trained as tactical and advance drivers under the PNG-Australia policing partnership.
They will be providing escorts during Apec.
“This is the first lot of woman we are training after attending theory classes last year to be recognised as certified tactical and advanced drivers during the Apec events,” Constable Rauma Lo’o said.
She said the women already knew how to drive and the training was to upgrade their skills to world-recognised standards on tactical and advanced driving.
She said the training involved close protection driving on two types of motorcades transporting Apec leaders.
She said the same courses and trainings were undertaken by male officers too.
“We also train our women officers on evasive driving to respond to threats we encounter on the road or at venues of events,” Lo’o said.
She said they would recruit more women before the event in November.
Lo’o said the women would be driving the wives.
“We are training these women to have in mind the safety, the dignity and the comfort of our
visiting guests and their spouses,” she said.