RSIPF security measures at Parliament House for election of PM

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) will be mounting check points along roads leading to Parliament House and members of the public entering the Parliament compound will be searched as police ensures the election of the Prime Minister tomorrow (24 April 2019) is safe and peaceful.

Speaking at a media conference today (23 April 2019) RSIPF Commissioner told journalists: “The role of the police is to work with the community to really make sure that we carry out those event safely and peacefully. And that has been our focus.”

“As part of the security arrangements your Police will be putting check points on roads leading up to Parliament House. The roads will not be open to general vehicle traffic and will not be allowing large group of cars and taxis heading up to Parliament,” says Commissioner Varley

He explains: “There are parts of the area at Parliament House that will be open to the public but there will be a limit as to how many people can be allowed safely in the zone.”

“We do understand that some members of the community would want to go there and listen to the announcement at the steps of Parliament. There will be a special martialling area on the East side of Parliament House where police will be able to control the crowd.”

Commissioner Varley adds: “There will be checks at the gate and no one will be allowed into the grounds of Parliament House without bag checks to make sure that no dangerous articles are brought into the grounds.

“Members of the public are advised not to carry bags containing bulky items. All bags will be checked by the Police before going into the perimeters of the Parliament House,” says Commissioner Varley

“This is a security precaution. It’s not about invasion of privacy. It is about making sure that there are no weapons or any other dangerous articles brought into the crowd situation,” Commissioner Varley emphasises

He explains: “Police have the power to search people should they believe any suspicions that people are carrying dangerous weapons or dangerous articles that could be used in the committing of an offence. Police have powers to search people, to search bags and also vehicles if we believe or have reasonable suspicion that there are dangerous items in people’s custody. Police can seize those items and take further action.”

More than 700 RSIPF officers will provide security at Parliament House and throughout Honiara city during the ‘Operation Prime Minister Election’ for the election of the Prime Minister.