ID :
164204
Sat, 02/26/2011 - 13:07
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/164204
The shortlink copeid
Australian police to aid NZ quake recovery
The first groups of Australian police are heading for New Zealand to help their hard-pressed local counterparts in earthquake devastated Christchurch.
Eventually, up to 300 Australian police will help out after a request from the New Zealand government.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the first group, comprising 25 officers from the AFP International Deployment Group, 25 from ACT Policing plus five support personnel, left Canberra on Friday.
On arrival, they will be sworn in to the New Zealand police force, giving enabling them to perform policing duties under New Zealand law.
Mr O'Connor said the Australian police will be under the control of the Canterbury Region district commander with members partnered with New Zealand Police officers.
"Their duties will primarily focus on local community policing, patrols and cordons of areas deemed too hazardous for people to safely enter," he said in a statement.
"The 55 AFP officers won't be directly involved in search and rescue and they won't be armed."
Mr O'Connor said the group would stay for two weeks. They are taking their own food, water, tents and sleeping bags so they can be self-sufficient during their stay.
Other groups - of 32 South Australian and 116 Victorian Police - are also heading for new Zealand.
One is Constable Vicky Nielsen who will be returning to her home town where her family still lives.
"They're going through a really tough time at the moment," she told reporters at Adelaide Airport on Friday.
"My mother's house is ruined. It was badly affected from the first earthquake and now the chimneys have caved in, the windows and the roof is gone.
"One of my brothers has lost his house.
"But they're all alive and they're all well and that's the main thing."
The Australian police are set to be busy.
New Zealand police are already pointing to a rise in looting in vacant homes and a surge in domestic violence.
And there have been reports of bogus officials going door-to-door in quake-struck Christchurch scouting out appliances to steal from stressed and vulnerable locals. Some of them are thought to be Australian.
The official quake death toll has risen to 113, with 228 still listed as missing. So far, that includes just one Australian resident, who was also a New Zealand citizen.
Australian consular officials in New Zealand have confirmed the safety of 2572 Australians believed to have been in Christchurch at the time of the earthquake.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) so far has taken 9635 calls and registered 3917 cases.
"The situation is fluid and we are continuing to receive information about Australians in Christchurch," the spokesperson said.
The government has waived the fees for replacement and emergency passports for all Australians affected by the earthquake.
Meanwhile, a RAAF flight carrying more equipment for recovery operations is leaving Richmond airbase, in Sydney's northwest, on Friday morning.
Eventually, up to 300 Australian police will help out after a request from the New Zealand government.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the first group, comprising 25 officers from the AFP International Deployment Group, 25 from ACT Policing plus five support personnel, left Canberra on Friday.
On arrival, they will be sworn in to the New Zealand police force, giving enabling them to perform policing duties under New Zealand law.
Mr O'Connor said the Australian police will be under the control of the Canterbury Region district commander with members partnered with New Zealand Police officers.
"Their duties will primarily focus on local community policing, patrols and cordons of areas deemed too hazardous for people to safely enter," he said in a statement.
"The 55 AFP officers won't be directly involved in search and rescue and they won't be armed."
Mr O'Connor said the group would stay for two weeks. They are taking their own food, water, tents and sleeping bags so they can be self-sufficient during their stay.
Other groups - of 32 South Australian and 116 Victorian Police - are also heading for new Zealand.
One is Constable Vicky Nielsen who will be returning to her home town where her family still lives.
"They're going through a really tough time at the moment," she told reporters at Adelaide Airport on Friday.
"My mother's house is ruined. It was badly affected from the first earthquake and now the chimneys have caved in, the windows and the roof is gone.
"One of my brothers has lost his house.
"But they're all alive and they're all well and that's the main thing."
The Australian police are set to be busy.
New Zealand police are already pointing to a rise in looting in vacant homes and a surge in domestic violence.
And there have been reports of bogus officials going door-to-door in quake-struck Christchurch scouting out appliances to steal from stressed and vulnerable locals. Some of them are thought to be Australian.
The official quake death toll has risen to 113, with 228 still listed as missing. So far, that includes just one Australian resident, who was also a New Zealand citizen.
Australian consular officials in New Zealand have confirmed the safety of 2572 Australians believed to have been in Christchurch at the time of the earthquake.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) so far has taken 9635 calls and registered 3917 cases.
"The situation is fluid and we are continuing to receive information about Australians in Christchurch," the spokesperson said.
The government has waived the fees for replacement and emergency passports for all Australians affected by the earthquake.
Meanwhile, a RAAF flight carrying more equipment for recovery operations is leaving Richmond airbase, in Sydney's northwest, on Friday morning.
