NZ police depart for East Timor

A 25-strong New Zealand police team this morning left for three months in troubled East Timor.

The 18 men and seven women will work alongside the 167-strong group of New Zealand Defence Force troops as well as other international police in the capital Dili.

They departed from Auckland's Whenuapai Airport at 9am, under the command of Tasman district commander Superintendent Grant O'Fee, who has been given the temporary rank of assistant commissioner.

The team's main task will be building up confidence with civilians who were driven from their homes into refugee camps when factional fighting intensified. They will assist Timorese national police to resume their duties.

The officers fly first to Darwin, Australia, and then on to Dili tomorrow morning.

- NZPA