The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) held a parade and graduation for 70 new police officers who completed 18 weeks of training at the RSIPF academy today and will boost police numbers over the festive and New Year period.
The Recruit Course was held at the Rove Police Academy and will bring the total number of recruits joining the RSIPF this year to 110.
There were nine (9) women amongst the group, with representation from all Provinces with the exception of Rennell and Bellona, as there were no successful applicants from this Province for this intake. The Recruit Course 2 of 2015 started on the 17th of August 2015 and graduated 21st Dec 2015.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony the RSIPF Commissioner, Frank Prendergast, stated that policing was not just a job, it was a vocation, and urged officers to strongly consider the oath which they were to take. He highlighted that this included carrying out their duties ‘honestly, faithfully and diligently without favour or affection, malice or ill-will towards any person’ and that they needed to be accountable and responsible for the ‘rule of law’ by obeying, upholding and maintaining the laws of Solomon Islands.
The Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, the Honourable Stanley Sofu also addressed the graduation and indicated that the RSIPF had rebuilt the trust of the community and was well positioned and prepared to fully take over policing in the Solomon Islands as the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) draws down.
The training was undertaken over an 18 week period and the officers underwent a total of 25 modules of training including how to be a professional police officer, physical tests, police administration duties, operational tasks, community policing work, criminal law and policies, public order management, liquor offences, traffic duties and offences, cell and custody procedures, human rights and giving evidence in court.
The recruit program was coordinated and delivered by the Police Academy staff but there were also specialist instructors and visiting external agencies that assisted with delivery of the program. The program has been extended and designed to produce professional, knowledgeable and well-disciplined police officers.
Persons who are interested in joining the RSIPF are urged to consult with the RSIPF Academy office in relation to future recruit courses.
Notices will be published in the local papers and on air when further recruitment proceeds and current applicants can check on progress of their recruitment with the Academy.