RSIPF capability in Western border boosted with high speed craft from Australia

The capability of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) in the Western border region will be boosted after receiving a high speed craft donated by the Government of Australia through the Australian High Commission Office in Honiara today (29 April 2020).

The handover ceremony was conducted at the RSIPF Maritime Aola base in Honiara in the presence of the Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. Anthony Veke. MP.

Acting Commissioner Mostyn Mangau says, “Today marks another important milestone in the history of the RSIPF and its journey of growth and capability development.”

“On behalf of the RSIPF, I wish to thank the Government of Australia through the Australian High Commission in Honiara for this gift of the high speed patrol vessel which could not have come at a more appropriate time as Solomon Islands continues to fight to prevent the coronavirus from entering our borders. This is the second such vessel gifted to RSIPF. The first one has already been deployed to the Western border.”

Acting Commissioner Mangau explains: “With the Government’s declaration of the Western border with Papua New Guinea as an Emergency Zone under the current State of Public Emergency, the RSIPF as the country’s leading law enforcement agency, has the task of ensuring that no small craft vessels will go out or come in through the Western Common border region with PNG.”

“This high speed patrol vessel will greatly boost the mobility of RSIPF and that of other government officers between the islands in that region to ensure small craft vessels do not break the Order and our people in that region are safe and secure from the coronavirus.”

In the RSIPF strategic direction, the Force will improve its operational capabilities to support border monitoring, surveillance and reconnaissance at its maritime borders. Such a gift as this high speed patrol vessel will be utilised in areas such as:
• Protection of natural resources;
• Protection-Monitoring and surveillance of SI-PNG common border;
• Response to Natural Disasters;
• Response to Maritime search and rescue;
• Support general policing; and
• Emergency medical evacuations.
“The RSIPF is proud to receive this craft and is thankful to the Australian Government for their support towards our maritime capability. This new speed craft will certainly boost the country’s maritime capabilities. I urge all he RSIPF officers that will use this expensive asset to look after it and use it for what it is meant for,” Acting Commissioner Mangau emphasises.