Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is the national police force of Solomon Islands and in January 2015 had an establishment of approximately 1,153 officers and 43 police stations across the country. Solomon Islands has no standing army, navy or air-force.

History

• 1893- The British Solomon Islands Protectorate was established and in 1899 encompassed the German Solomon Islands.^{[1][3][4][5][6][7]}
• 1922- Protectorate constabulary strength increased to 153 officers by 1922.^[1]
• 1940- During the war, most police became Coastwatchers including the heroic Jacob C. Vouza ^[1][8]
• 1945- The armed Constabulary was reconstituted following the war.^[1]
• 1950- The police band was formed ^[1]
• 1954- A Queen’s Regulation issued renamed the force as the Solomon Islands Police Force - approved establishment was eight commissioned officers and 200 sub-officers and constables.^[1]
• 1974- All police stations were linked by a radio network. ‘Royal’ was added to the title of the police force, granted by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Protectorate.^[1]
• 1975- John Holloway is appointed the first RSIPF Commissioner of Police in July 1975. He served as commissioner until 1982.
• 2003- Between 1998 and 2003 unresolved land issues lead to significant civil conflict, the tensions, and a major break-down of law and order. On the request of the Governor-General, an international response was organised, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), led by Australia, which restored peace arriving on the 24 July 2003.^[9] The RSIPF was disarmed following the ethnic conflict, and RAMSI temporarily provided the armed policing and response capability. RAMSI subsequently rebuilt local capacity in the areas of police, corrections and justice and gradually transferred its powers to local authorities.^[10]
• 2013- The Military Component of RAMSI (Combined Task Force-CTF) withdrew in mid 2013 and by January 2015 the police component of RAMSI had reduced to approximately 152 officers.^[1]
• 2014- Following Cyclone Ita RSIPF provided a lead response where an estimated 52,000 people were affected by floods and 23 people tragically lost their lives. Initially over 10,000 people were displaced and relocated in 30 evacuation centres, largely in Honiara. Approximately 2,000 people required longer-term assistance as a result of lost or severely damaged homes.^[1]
• 2015- Efforts underway to rearm the RSIPF.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Structure

The RSIPF is headed by the Commissioner for Police who report to the Minister of National Security, Police and Correctional Services. Historically, several of these have been expatriates under contract. On 22 December 2006, an Australian Federal Police officer, Shane Castles, then serving as the Commissioner under a contract funded by the Australian government was declared by the Solomon Islands Government to be an "undesirable immigrant" while he was out of the country and was not allowed to return.^[15]

The Solomon Islands Government has approved the staged, limited rearmament of the RSIPF including the Police Response Unit, Close Personal Protection Unit and Aviation Policing.^[16]

The RSIPF Professional Standards and Internal Investigations Unit monitors police discipline and performance.

List of RSIPF Commissioners

References

External links

• State.gov
• Isiservicescorp.com
• Solomonstarnews.com
• Radionz.co.nz