The only State disciplined forces in Kiribati are a unified national police force, with prison and quarantine powers, and the coast guard. Defense assistance is provided by Australia and New Zealand. The police force does not report to any ministers but rather directly to the President of Kiribati.[1]
The Kiribati Police Service is an independent body with one police officer for every 222 people (total staff over 500 with strength approximately 458 sworn members). Ioeru Tokantetaake is the current CommissionerofPolice (since 2004), and also presides over prisons in Kiribati.
The Kiribati Police Service carry few weapons. Drill purpose rifles are used for drills, and some officers have been provided with AR-15 rifles.
There are police stations on every inhabited island in Kiribati. Key police posts include:
The police operate the RKS Teanoai (301), a Pacific class patrol boat provided to Kiribati by Australia as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program and delivered new in 1994. The vessel is registered and stationed in Tarawa.
KPS is responsible for managing the prisons in Kiribati. There are 4 prisons in Kiribati with 3 for men and 1 for women.[2] As of 2013, there are 141 persons detained in the system. Prison staff are members of the Kiribati Police Service.
There are two prisons in Kiribati:
Fire and rescue services are the responsibility of the KPS.[3]
In 2012 Japan donated a chemical pumper to Kiribati to be stationed in Betio to replace the role of the fire truck at Bonriki International Airport on the other end of the island.[4]
Select members of the KPS are selected to protect the President and other dignitaries.[5]
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