The 36th ASEAN Police Chiefs (Aseanapol) concluded on July 28 with the signing of the Aseanapol Communication and Coordination Protocol for Crisis Management (ACCPCM) after a 10-year hiatus.

The proposal for the ACCPCM was first tabled in 2006 when the conference was organized in Malaysia, said Inspector-General of Police of Malaysia Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

The protocol has finally materialized after 10 years and police in the ASEAN member states are now renewing their commitments and cooperation, particularly in cross-border crimes such as drug trafficking and smuggling, he stressed.

This year’s conference also saw the signing of the letter of intent (LOI) on cooperation between Aseanapol and the European Police (Europol).

In addition, all the ten ASEAN countries agreed to continue the Interpol Southeast Asian Foreign Fighters project in an attempt to encounter terrorism.

Singapore will host the 37th Aseanapol Conference, Khalid announced.

Established in 1981, Aseanapol is a joint body between police from regional countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Source: VNA