The issue of managing the population of crocodiles which continue to be a threat to our communities is a priority for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
Supervising Assistant Commissioner (AC) National Operation, Chief Superintendent, Stanley Riolo says, “The RSIPF is aware of the threat crocodiles pose to members of our communities who reside alongside rivers, streams, creeks, lakes and coastal areas in some parts of the country and will try to assist get rid of these reptiles.”
“People are therefore warned to take extra precaution while using these locations,” says Supervising AC Riolo.
He adds: “People are encouraged to report any sightings of crocodiles in the communities according to a process established by the police to ensure the reports are attended to in an effective manner.”
The process includes:
• Submit a formal request through the office of the Provincial Police Commanders (PPC) or to your nearest police station, stating very clearly where the crocodile or crocodiles have been sighted.
• The request form must bear the name of a community leader, date and signatory of the leader giving permission to the police to carry out the destruction of crocodile/s;
• The community leader who makes the request must also declare that no claim of compensation may be laid against the RSIPF for destroying crocodile/s within the surrounding area of his/her community; and
• If the community leader wishes to cancel the request to destroy the crocodile/s, they must do so in writing to the same PPC that they have made the original request.
In the event you are unable to make a written request, ask for help from other members of your community to do it on your behalf or ask an officer of the RSIPF to assist you write the request.
The Police Response Team (PRT) has killed 27 crocodiles since the rearmament of the RSIPF in May 2017 until the second week of January 2018 during operations conducted at locations throughout the country.