"Residents of both our countries are increasingly using the cyber world in their daily lives."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australian is to strengthen law enforcement with Indonesia by building three high-speed boats in dealing with people smuggling in both regions, an Australian Minister said.
The construction of three high-speed patrol boats for the Indonesian National Police is well underway as part of the support of the Gillard Government to help in dealing with people smuggling in the region, an Australian Minister said, according to a press release from the Australian embassy in Jakarta, here, Wednesday.
Australian Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O`Connor in his visit to Jakarta said that the 16 meters long patrol boats are worth almost 5 million Australian dollars and will help the Indonesian National Police deal and and deter smuggling in the region.
"The three vessels have been designed and built by an Australian company and have been constructed in stages in Perth, Vietnam and Singapore," he said.
More than two million Australian dollars will be provided in operational support and maintenance of the vessels after they are put into action later this year.
"These high-speed patrol boats will be based at strategic locations across Indonesia as an active force in the ongoing fight against people smuggling," O`Connor said.
Today Mr O`Connor is scheduled to visit the construction site of the Indonesian National Police the Cyber Crime Centre, which is based in the Indonesian National Police headquarters in Jakarta and to meet Indonesian National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo to discuss ongoing co-operation between the two countries.
"The Gillard Government is investing 4.8 million Australian dollars in the fitting out of the new center, as well as law enforcement equipment and training for the Indonesian officers who will work at the center," he said.
Minister O`Connor said that when completed, the Cyber Crime Center will help the Indonesian police to target the financing of people smuggling and other transnational crimes by using computer forensic and high tech crime investigation techniques.
"Residents of both our countries are increasingly using the cyber world in their daily lives, and unfortunately criminals are no exception who are using new technology to commit crime such as people smuggling," he said.
"The challenge facing law enforcement agencies across the world is to stay ahead of the curve. Criminals don`t respect national borders, so we must find ways to work more closely together. As one of our closest neighbors, it`s important to have strong law enforcement ties with Indonesia for the good of both our nations," Mr O`Connor said.
The Gillard Government is committed to continuing this cooperation to combat transnational crimes, including money laundering and people smuggling, according to the press release.
(Tz.A050/H-NG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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