New patrol vehicles for RSIPF
File Photo
Acting Commander of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF)-Australian Federal Police (AFP) Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP), Heath Davies, handed over six new vehicles to the RSIPF to support its frontline policing operations.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS), Ms Karen Galokale, and the RSIPF Commissioner, Mostyn Mangau, received the vehicles during a brief handover ceremony held at the at Rove Police Headquarters today (29th July 2022).
The marked police vehicles handed over will help address vehicle fleet shortage in the RSIPF. These much needed vehicles will enabled the RSIPF to respond to incidents and maintain its community high visibility patrolling.
The vehicles is part of the RAPPP mobility project which focused on supporting the RSIPF with fleet management and replacement.
During the ceremony, Ms. Galokale said the vehicles delivered to the police is timely as it will boost the RSIPF mobility capability at a time when our security environment continues to evolve necessitating the need to continue investing in police frontline capabilities.
She said the support from RAPPP will ensure the RSIPF remains resourced to conduct high visibility and surveillance in the communities.
“These vehicles will elevate the mobility capability of the RSIPF from where it is yesterday,” the MPNSCS Permanent Secretary added.
RAPPP Acting Commander, Davies, said it is a privilege for the RAPPP to support the RSIPF maintain and grow its capabilities.
He said this is the first six vehicles RAPPP handed to the RSIPF from a total of 22 vehicles to be handed in the coming months.
RSIPF Commissioner, Mangau, thanked the RAPPP and AFP for the continuous support and friendship.
“I appeal to officers to take good care of these vehicles. Use it for its intended purposes. We have our vehicle policy which will guide how officers used these vehicles,” Commissioner Mangau said.
The handing over of these vehicles fulfilled one of the focuses of the RAPPP in supporting the RSIPF to provide high quality policing services to Solomon Islands and the wider community.
Since commencing in mid-2021, RAPPP has been supporting the RSIPF in various areas in the RSIPF including; technical advisory, forensics, investigations, national operations, infrastructure, training, community engagement, health and spiritual support.
The AFP and RSIPF have been partnering for many years. AFP has reaffirm its commitment to support the RSIPF as it prepares for future events like the 2023 Pacific Games.