The Police Response Team (PRT) of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is currently conducting an operation in the community of Boneghi in North West Guadalcanal after the alleged sighting of a crocodile in the area.
It was alleged a saltwater crocodile was sighted at Boneghi Two Beach which is a popular swimming location for the residents of Honiara City.
Assistant Commissioner (AC), National Operations, Mostyn Mangau says “It is very important that the community reports to police any sightings of dangerous reptiles and that they stay away from water where crocodiles are sighted. The RSIPF will respond to the threat of crocodiles whenever the community requires it.”
"The issue of managing the population of crocodiles which continue to be a threat to our communities is a priority for the RSIPF," says AC Mangau.
The process of requesting assistance by the communities 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.