The outgoing RSIPF Commissioner, Frank Prendergast (right) hands over the ceremonial sword to the new Commissioner, Matthew Varley at the official farewell and welcome ceremony held at the Police Headquarters in Honiara

NEW Royal Solomon Island Police Commissioner Mathew Varley will continue the tasks left by outgoing commissioner Frank Prendergast.

Police Commissioner Matthew Varley told local media yesterday that he will continue with whatever task left behind especially with the Janus taskforce operation.

“Our job is to uphold the law and bring to account those who seek to abuse positions of trust.

“Corruption, in all its forms, is a cancer which eats away the foundations of any society and it cannot be tolerated. As police officers we swear an oath to uphold the law – and we will do so without fear or favour,” Mr Varley said.

He said the community rightly expects those charged with upholding the law to be beyond reproach.

“As Commissioner I will not accept anything other than the highest levels of integrity, ethics and self-discipline from my police officers. The community rightly expects no less.

“Integrity is the lifeblood of policing – without it a police force has nothing,” he said.

He also said RSIPF of today is a capable, modern, responsive and very well-run organisation, due in no small part to the sheer commitment and hard work of all RSIPF officers, the executive leadership team and the outgoing Commissioner Frank Prendergast.

He also said that RSIPF owes the outgoing Commissioner an enormous debt of gratitude the vision, passion, commitment and leadership he rendered brought the RSIPF to where it is today.

“Congratulations on your achievements and thank you for all you have done. I know from speaking to all the RSIPF officers I have met so far – you will not be forgotten,” Mr Varley said.