RSIPF receives $5 m equipment from SIPDP

Commander of the Solomon Island Police Development Program (SIPDP) Paul Osborne today (26 July 2021) handed over equipment worth $5 million to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Honiara

Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Hon Anthony Veke, Member of Parliament and RSIPF Commissioner Mostyn Mangau received the equipment during a brief ceremony at the Rove Police Headquarters this morning.

The items included a new marked police vehicle, mechanical tools and spare parts for the ongoing maintenance of the RSIPF vehicle fleet, surveillance equipment, general duties police equipment, sporting equipment, uniforms and boots, office furniture, air-conditioning units, generators and water tanks, IT equipment including computers and software, printers and laptops, fire service equipment, forensics equipment and equipment for the RSIPF gymnasium.

During the gifting ceremony, the Minister of Police, Hon Veke said, “These items have been carefully selected by the SIPDP Commander, RSIPF Commissioner and the Ministry. It is part of an agreed effort to upgrade and improve important police infrastructure and ensure the RSIPF remains resourced to service the community and respond to national security threats including our borders during the current COVID-19 state of emergency.”

“It is critically important that we maintain and grow our existing capabilities to ensure we remain an agile, efficient and flexible police service. These items will positively influence across a range of important police functions including our forensics, which is fast becoming one of the best capabilities in the Pacific and Police Response Team operations both here and on the border. The computer and software upgrades will provide a significant boost to our frontline, criminal investigation and intelligence units. I would like to thank the Commander and the SIPDP for their continuing support and friendship,” said RSIPF Commissioner Mangau.

SIPDP Commander Osborne said, “The total value of the items gifted is in excess of five million dollars. It is a privilege to support the RSIPF with these items. There is no question this is one of our most important law enforcement partnerships.

We are looking forward to continuing that relationship under a new program currently being considered by the Solomon Islands Government that has been carefully designed by the RSIPF, the Ministry of Police and the Australian Federal Police.”

SIPDP is also in the final stages of completing new police stations at Aola, Avu Avu and Wagina and the police barracks at the Tetere Police Station, which represents a further investment of $10 million. It is expected that the infrastructure projects will be completed by the end of September 2021