17 Aug 2012

NZ police to help with Cooks Forum security

12:46 pm on 17 August 2012

The Cook Islands police commissioner says a small team of New Zealand police will provide additional security during this month's Pacific Islands Forum.

Ma'ara Tetava says they will be sworn in as temporary Cook Islands officers.

He says most of the six officers are with the Specialist Search Unit.

"What they do is they work with my team. They go to venues to be visited by the leaders. They search it. They clear it and we lock it down until the leaders get there."

Commissioner Ma'ara Tetava says the New Zealand police team will also include an intelligence analyst and a radio technician.

Meanwhile, a second rehearsal is being held tonight to ensure the public behaves appropriately when the leaders' motorcade moves around Rarotonga.

Police say no drivers are to attempt to overtake the motorcade and that oncoming traffic has to pull to the side of the road until it has passed.

And Commissioner Tetava says any weapons carried by security details accompanying the leaders will be confiscated at the border.