28 June 2022
Coming at a time in the Solomon Islands when the past traditional methods of law enforcement and training in public disorder duties, plus reported moves to issue certain sections of the RSIPF with lethal M4 carbine rifles are pending, I considered it timely and appropriate for the Deputy Commissioner of the RSIPF to to remind police officers of their basic responsibilities in upholding the law justly, fairly and with a commitment to police duties.
The Deputy Commissioner stopped short of saying police duties should, at all times be conducted by the use of minimum force, but one would hope her words referring to “justly” and “fairly” would imply the necessity of minimum force in carrying out duties and upholding the law.
Quote from the Solomon Star News article.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Juanita Matanga highlighted the importance of respect and commitment as two key attitudes in the work of police.
Speaking during her meeting with RSIPF in Auki yesterday she said it is important for police officers to continue to uphold respect and commitment in the course of their duty.
She said it is paramount the police officers must committed to the oath that they undertook when first joining the police force.
She said the oath is the key that governed police officers in the course of their duty where she said showing lack of commitment to the oath is the least expected from police officers.
With regards to respect, she said police work with different stakeholders within the society where she said it is important to uphold respect in their approach.
She said when enforcing law with respect it always come out with a good outcome where she said respect is earned by showing respect in police approach.
With that, she urged RSIPF in Auki to maintain its good working relationship with communities in Malaita as a way forward.
She said policing alone would not address issues in the country where she said respect is an important essence in achieving effective policing.
End of quote.
Source – Solomon Star News.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
