Andrew Hughes (police Officer)

Andrew Hughes (police Officer)

Andrew 'Andy' Hughes is a senior officer of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) who, until recently, served as the Chief Police Officer (CPO) for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The CPO position is similar to the role of Australian Commissioners of Police, that is, the chief executive of the ACT Policing component of the AFP. ACT Policing forms one of the larger operating components of Australia's national policing agency, the Australian Federal Police.

On 9 August 2007, Ban-Ki Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations announced Andrew Hughes' appointment as Police Advisor to the UN. This role places Hughes at the head of UN Police Peacekeeping.

Previously, Hughes was the Commissioner of Police of Fiji having held that appointment between 2003 and 2006. Hughes' family left Fiji after the police received threats relating to the security of his family (wife, Vicki, and sons, Callum and Jake). Hughes followed soon after.

Under the Fijian constitution, the office of Police Commissioner need not be held by a citizen, and in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry was deposed, it was thought that a non-citizen would be better able to present an image of fairness and impartiality in the prosecution of coup-related cases. His predecessor, Isikia Savua, had been accused by the former President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, of complicity in it. Ratu Sir Kamisese resigned (allegedly under pressure from the Military and police) in the midst of the coup.

Since 2003, Hughes vigorously pursued investigations against high-profile citizens in connection with the events of 2000. His targets have included chiefs and politicians, including some government Ministers. His relationship with the government was at times strained, and he periodically clashed with the Home Affairs Minister, Josefa Vosanibola. His areas of disagreement with the government included the controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which proposed to establish a Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup; Hughes expressed serious reservations about the amnesty provisions. He also opposed government attempts to cap expenditure by the police and the Military. He was once widely regarded as an ally of the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, but relations between them deteriorated in 2006 to the point where Bainimarama demanded his resignation in November.

The AFP nominated Hughes for the role of Fiji Commissioner of Police following a request by the Fijian Constitutional Officers Committee. Prior to that appointment, Hughes served as an Assistant Commissioner of the AFP, holding the position of Deputy Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory. Prior to this appointment, Hughes was the General Manager of International and Federal Operations.

Hughes announced on 16 February 2006 that with his term due to expire in 2007, he would stay on if requested. Otherwise, there were four senior officers, all Fiji citizens, who were qualified to succeed him, Fiji Television quoted him as saying. On 22 March, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase told Radio Sargam, which is affiliated to the Fiji Village news service, that he hoped Hughes would stay on. "I would be the first person to support the continuation of his contract because he has done an excellent job and on top of that he hasn't finished the job, he's done a lot but there's still a lot to be done. I'd like to see the same person carrying on to complete what he intends to do. It is all to the best interest of Fiji and the population," Qarase said. "Looking at our recent past it may be best for Fiji to continue with an expatriate Police Commissioner," he added.