Twenty one Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) officers successfully completed a five-week intensive Detective Qualifying Course coordinated by the Police Academy with other stakeholders including the Offices of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Public Solicitor and Judiciary on 5 October 2017.
These officers have previously attended various investigation courses and others have done the first and second levels of basic investigation career pathway and now the qualifying course to become qualified Detectives.
“It is important that the RSIPF continues to upgrade the skills of its investigators as investigations become more complicated with the sophistication of crimes during this day and age of cyber-crime,” says Supervising Assistant Commissioner Crime, Vincent U’upwe at the closing of the course in Honiara.
Supervising Assistant Commissioner Crime, Mr U’upwe adds: “Successfully completing this course re-qualifies those officers who are already detectives and for others successfully completing this course does not automatically qualify them to be qualified detectives, but it is a pathway to that title. They must first complete the requirements that are contained in their work books. They will be on probation for twelve months and within that period must ensure their work book is filled and certified by their respective supervisors.”
Some of the topics covered in the training course included:
• Types of offences
• Principles of investigations
• Forensic evidence
• Crime Scenes
• Exhibit management
• Operational Safety
• Power to arrest, and
• Criminal intelligence
One of the participants in the course, Detective Constable Boaz Kukiti of the RSIPF National Investigation Department (NCID) says, “This training is very important in my line of duty especially dealing with homicide cases. I look forward putting into practice some of the things I have learnt during the past five weeks.”
Another participant, Detective Sergeant Rose Nala from the Sexual Squad Unit within NCID says, “The training will certainly improve my skills as an investigator.”