Inaugural Open Police Station Day a success

Several hundred secondary school students today (29 September) visited police stations in Honiara and other provincial stations throughout the country as part of the ‘Open Police Station Day’ initiative to market the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to our youth population.

“The Open Police Station Day is one of the activities in the RSIPF’s Media Strategy to build the confidence of the communities in the Force. The event was held as part of the ‘Blue Ribbon Day’ commemorations to remember the lives of the officers who passed away while the serving in the RSIPF and serving the people of this country,” says Juanita Matanga, Supervising Commissioner of Police.

“We believe the ‘Open Police Station Day’ gives the opportunity to our young people to have a better understanding on how the RSIPF as an organisation does its work in the effort to maintain law and order in the country,” says Matanga.

Supervising Commissioner Matanga adds: “This initiative is one of the activities that the RSIPF Media Unit has put together in their role to market the Force. I want to thank those schools who have responded positively to the invitation to visit the police stations near them. We will continue to work with our communities and other stakeholders to increase the confidence the public has in the RSIPF, Polis blong iu.”

Students from Bishop Epalle Catholic School and St John Community High School who visited the Police Headquarters in Rove, Honiara were briefed on the work of various departments including, Communications, National Response Division (NRD), Explosive Ordinance (EOD), Forensics, National Criminal Investigation Division (NCID), Community Policing and the Police Academy.

After the visit to the various departments, the students expressed their appreciation for being given the opportunity to learn more about how the various departments in the RSIPF do their work. They hope to spread the information they have received during their visit to other students at their school as well as members of their families. Some have also indicated that the visit will assist them make a decision on their future career.

A school teacher from Saint John Community High School, Alfred thanked the RSIPF for organising the visit for the students.

“As a teacher, I have learnt a lot from the various RSIPF departments visited at the Rove Police Headquarters. I know the students have learnt a lot from the visit and the information will help them become good citizens of Solomon Islands,” says teacher Alfred.