THE Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Community Policing and Crime Prevention Model has been developed in close consultation with a broad range of stakeholders and within the context of the Solomon Islands ‘environment’.

Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon Stanley Festus Sofu made this explanation in Parliament yesterday in response to a question by the Leader of the Independent Group, Hon Derek Sikua about the relevance of the model to Solomon Islands.

“The model is based on a foundation of respect for our customs and cultures and it rests on the four pillars of a capable responsive police force, intelligence-led policing, stakeholder cooperative approach and community engagement and consultation,” Hon Sofu said.

He said this model is in line with the objective of the Democratic Coalition for Change Government’s Policy Statement on National Security and Correctional Services and that is to develop and establish a community policing and crime prevention model that is relevant for Solomon Islands by recognising traditional systems and working in partnership with all levels of the community.

The Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services said this community policing and crime prevention- focused model will be embedded into RSIPF Police Academy courses and reinforced through continuous professional development programmes, adding that the RSIPF Executive is committed to leading this change.

“Community engagement by police and other agencies is critical in the prevention of crime.

“This approach is a cornerstone of crime-prevention policing. It requires all members of police to actively collaborate with communities to identify problems and work to address them.

“The community together with police are responsible for each and every neigbourhood.

“Young people are a large part of the community and involving them in community policing programmes would improve results, given their disproportionately high involvement in crime either as offenders or victims,” he added.

Minister Sofu said the RSIPF’s Community Engagement and Consultation will be done through a number of initiatives and they are as follows:

 Development of a National Crime Prevention Board;

 Publication of RSIPF Community Profile Policing Guide;

 Establishment of Provincial Crime Prevention Councils;

 Establishment of Ward Crime Prevention Committees; and

 Launching a media campaign to highlight the rights of citizens under the constitution and the role communities play in reporting crime under the laws of Solomon Islands.

The Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services said traditional chiefs will play a major role in the Crime Prevention Committees.

“Chiefs can ensure that the security environment is restored or that communities do not take the law into their own hands following a criminal activity.

“Chiefs can also support the strategy by providing supervision, including reporting on important matters that may undermine the community and information on crime and offenders within their communities.”

Hon Sofu said Churches, given their nationwide presence and well-established communication network, will play a significant role spreading the Crime Prevention message across the country as well as identifying developing conflict and pressure points.

“The Churches are an invaluable source of information for the RSIPF. Church leaders will also play a significant role in Community Crime and Prevention Committee at both national and provincial levels.”

–OPMC PRESS