Additional officers from Honiara to boost police in Malaita for NGE

Additional police officers have been deployed to Malaita Province for the National General Election (NGE) 2019 today, 23 March 2019.

This is the first of deployment of officers to the provinces to assist provincial police commanders provide security during the NGE.

Assistant Commissioner for the NGE National Police Operations, Mostyn Mangau says, “A total of 44 officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) from Honiara have left this morning (23 March) for the NGE operation.

“The details of the total figure is that fifteen officers have been airlifted to Auki on board an Australian Defense Force (ADF) helicopter, and 29 officers left on board the RSIPF Vessel (RSIPFV) Auki to assist police officers posted in Malaita Province for the lead up events, awareness talks and surveillance duties at various venues designated as polling stations for the NGE in that Province. These officers will also remain in Malaita Province for the duration of the NGE," says AC Mangau.

He says, “I appeal to community leaders in Malaita Province to work together with the police to ensure the NGE-2019 is a crime free occasion, that every eligible registered voters in that Province exercise their democratic rights to cast their ballot papers according to law in a peaceful manner.”

The Assistant Commissioner says that more deployments of RSIPF officers to other provinces in the country for NGE duties will happen in coming days before 3 April 2019.