Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

Last updated
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force
Patch of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.svg
Patch
Emblem of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.svg
Emblem
MottoTo provide a safe and peaceful Solomon Islands by strengthening relationships with the community
Agency overview
Formedc.1974 [1]
Preceding agencies
  • Solomon Islands Police Force (1954) [1]
  • Solomon Islands Defence Force (1940) [1]
Jurisdictional structure
National agency Solomon Islands
Operations jurisdiction Solomon Islands
Governing body Politics of Solomon Islands
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Honiara, Solomon Islands
Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services responsible
  • Hon. Stanley Festus Sofu [2]
Agency executive
  • Mostyn Mangau, Acting Commissioner of Police
Website
www.rsipf.gov.sb

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.

Contents

Solomon Islands has no military organisation with this provided in the past by the abolished paramilitary wing of the RSIPF known as the Police Field Force (later Special Task and Rescue). [3] [4] The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) withdrew in June 2017 handing full control of policing back to the RSIPF. [5]

History

Structure

The RSIPF is headed by the Commissioner for Police who report to the Minister of Police, National Security, Correctional Services. Historically, several Commissioners 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. [18]

The RSIPF structure includes two Deputy Commissioners. The Deputy Commissioner Operations manages the portfolios of 'National Capital and Crime Prevention' and 'Provincial Policing', both of which are supervised by Assistant Commissioners. The Deputy Commissioner National Security and Operations Support managed the portfolios of 'National Operations' and 'Corporate Support', again both of which are supervised by Assistant Commissioners.

The RSIPF Police Media Unit reports directly to the Chief of Staff. The RSIPF website, www.rsipf.gov.sb, was launched on 14 August 2015 and provides a range of information on RSIPF structure and units, as well as official publications including Annual reports.

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

The Solomon Islands Government has approved the staged, limited rearmament of the RSIPF including the Police Response Team (PRT) and the Close Personal Protection (CPP) Unit. [19] [20] In May 2017, the RSIPF was rearmed with pistols and shotguns with 125 officers from the PRT and CPP trained to use firearms. [21] [22] [23] In 2022, Australia donated sixty Daniel Defense MK18 rifles and provided training to PRT officers. [24] [25]

Under the Police Act 2013, the RSIPF is also responsible for Fire services and maintains a Fire Service in Honiara and the major provincial capitals.

Ranks

Police ranks and Insignia
Epaulette Insignia Commissioner Epaulette.svg Deputy Chief Constable.svg Calgary Police - Deputy Chief.png Chief Superintendant Epaulette.svg CInsp.svg Edmonton Police - Staff Sergeant.png Edmonton Police - Sergeant.png Durham SC.svg
Rank Commissioner Deputy commissioner Assistant commissioner Chief superintendent Provincial Police Commander
Chief superintendent
Superintendent InspectorStaff sergeantSergeantConstable

Maritime Department

RSIPV Taro in 2021 RSIPV Taro in Cockburn Sound, May 2021 04.jpg
RSIPV Taro in 2021

The RSIPF Maritime Department provides the RSIPF's maritime capability and conducts operational patrols and patrols of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Solomon Islands Borders for fisheries, immigration and national security purposes. RSIPF Maritime operates the one Pacific-class patrol boat, RSIPV Auki (04), and the new Guardian-class patrol boat RSIPV Gizo (05). The Gizo replaced the other Pacific-class patrol boat, RSIPV Lata (03), when it was commissioned on 19 December 2019, and when the second Guardian-class vessel enters service in 2022, the Auki will presumably also be replaced and disposed of.

Australia started delivering Guardian class patrol vessels to replace the Pacific class vessels in 2018. [26] Australia committed to provide two new vessels to replace the RSIPF vessels. The then Police Commissioner Matthew Varley announced, on January 26, 2019, that expansion of the Police Force's mooring space, to accommodate the larger Guardian class vessels, would be undertaken in 2019. [27]

In 2020 and 2021, Australia provided a squadron of several 9.2 metres (30 ft) in-shore patrol craft. [28]

The MD acts as the SI's de facto navy. [29] In June 2023, MD officers were rearmed with Glock pistols. [30] In December 2023, the MD's two Guardian class patrol boats were armed with FN Herstal M2 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns. [31] [32] [33]

Current VesselsOriginClassTypeNotes
RSIPV Gizo (05) Australia Guardian Class Patrol Boat Commissioned 19 December 2019
RSIPV Taro (06) AustraliaGuardian ClassPatrol BoatCommissioned 9 May 2021
Former VesselsOriginClassTypeNotes
RSIPV Lata (03) AustraliaPacific ClassPatrol BoatReplaced by RSIPV Gizo
RSIPV Auki (04) AustraliaPacific ClassPatrol BoatReplaced by RSIPV Taro

List of RSIPF Commissioners

NameTerm of OfficeNotes
StartEnd
John HollowayAugust 19751982
Sir Fred Soaki19821995
Morton Sireheti19951997
Frank Short CBEJuly 1997June 1999
Rererangi Hika19992000
Morton SirihetiJuly 2000December 2002
Bill Morrell (UK)28 January 2003March 2005 [34] [35]
Shane Castles (AFP)April 2005December 2006 [35] [36]
(vacant)December 200615 May 2007 [36]
Mohammed Jahir Khan (Fiji)15 May 2007May 2008 [36]
Peter Marshall (Acting) (NZ)May 2008March 2009
Peter MarshallMarch 20097 February 2011
Walter Kola (Acting)7 February 20112 May 2012
John Lansley (UK)2 May 20122 May 2013
Juanita Matanga (Acting)3 May 201329 August 2014
Frank Prendergast (AFP)29 August 201425 January 2017 [37]
Matthew Varley (AFP)25 January 201729 November 2019 [38]
Mostyn Mangau (Acting)29 November 201922 July 2020
Mostyn Mangau23 July 2020Present

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RSIPV <i>Lata</i> Australian patrol boat given to Solomon Islands

RSIPV Lata is one of the Pacific Forum patrol boats Australia gave to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

RSIPV <i>Auki</i>

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RSIPV <i>Gizo</i> Guardian-class patrol boat

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RKS <i>Teanoai II</i> Patrol boat of the Kiribati Maritime Police

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References

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  2. "Parliament of Solomon Islands" . Retrieved 22 November 2016.
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  27. "New wharf for new patrol boats". SIBC. 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-01-26. 'The new Guardian class patrol boat is some 10 meters longer, and bigger than the current patrol boats, it has a large spread of capabilities, and a much larger range of sailing,' he said. 'Its so big that we gonna have to upgrade the maritime base to fit it, and that work will go on this year.'
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