RSIPF To Train As UN Peacekeepers

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) members could be sent on their first peace keeping duties with the United Nations (UN) as early as next year.The UN is increasingly turning to the Melanesian countries to help maintain peace around the world, with police from Vanuatu and police and soldiers from Fiji involved, while Papua New Guinea is also preparing personnel.The RSIPF Commissioner, Frank Prendergast, says the capacity building since the years of civil unrest have got his staff to a stage where they are ready to undertake peace keeping work if required."We are identifying a number of officers to go through pre-deployment training, which will be supplied by the Australian Federal Police, and that will mean that those officers are ready to deploy to UN missions, if and when the Solomon Islands Government agrees with the UN about those deployments."The news is a positive sign, one that shows that the RSIPF has rebuilt itself over the years and sits comfortably with other forces in the world.Twenty Officers have been selected to undergo testing and training to meet the standards required for Police Peace Keepers serving in UN Missions.It is also an opportunity for local officers to expand their knowledge, skills and gain some experience that will later benefit the force and the communities that the members serve.  Participating in UN Missions would help bring an added dimension to the level of experience of members.