RSIPF and community leaders discuss ways to improve frontline policing

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and community leaders representing Honiara communities convened a workshop to look at ways to strengthen and improve frontline policing.

The two-day ‘RSIPF Frontline Review Workshop’ was opened at the National Traffic Centre (Kukum) on 20th February 2025.

Over 20 RSIPF and RSIPF & Australian Federal Police (AFP) Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP) officers and around 15 community leaders attended the workshop.

The aim of the workshop is to improve issues identified in the RSIPF frontline. It also provides an opportunity for RSIPF officers to engage with community leaders and to listen to their views regarding frontline policing.

In her remarks during the first day of the workshop, RSIPF Deputy Commissioner, Juanita Matanga, said preventing crime in the communities requires collective action from everyone. Crime prevention becomes so important because it creates trust between police and communities which promotes safe communities.

Deputy Commissioner Matanga said she is pleased to see police and community leaders coming together to discuss ways to keep communities safe.

“Everyone wants to live in a community that is peaceful. That is why it is important that everyone works together,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

She thanked donor supporters, RAPPP, for supporting this workshop and RSIPF’s effort of improving issues in the frontline.

The workshop gives the RSIPF an opportunity to use hotspot intelligence to create strategies and plans to address emerging issues in the community and to effectively direct RSIPF policing resources to problem areas.

During the workshop, RSIPF managers and commanders presented assessments and reports outlining what the RSIPF is doing in relation to frontline policing.

In his introductory remarks, RSIPF Assistant Commissioner (National Capital and Crime Prevention), Simpson Pogeava, said the RSIPF is keen to use such gatherings to gauge how communities think of the way police operate.

Assistant Commissioner Pogeava said the RSIPF needed honest and constructive critics from community leaders that is why they have invited these leaders to the workshop.

He added the RSIPF remains committed to improving frontline operations and a stronger partnership with communities to ensure communities are safe.

The RSIPF discussed issues like resources, logistics, attendance, staffing numbers, satisfactory performance of vehicle and foot patrols, timely response to jobs, recording of investigations and more.

RSIPF officers are expected to identify actions to take to improve issues identified and implement solutions in order to operate more effectively. This may include training, disciplinary measures, equipment, funding and so forth.