Seventeen Police officers have graduated from a Basic Investigation programme, which ended on Friday with the participants receiving their certificates.

The three-week course was designed to improve the investigative skills of Police officers when dealing with complaints from the public.

During the closing, Police Commissioner, Fuiava Egon Keil, congratulated the officers for successfully completing the training.

He reminded them about the need to put the new skills into practice to avoid complaints against the Police for improper handling of investigations.

The officers will now undergo a field phase for a period of six months before entering into the advance investigation programme, if they are successful.

The investigation programme is part of the Samoa Australia Police Partnership Capacity development initiative.