The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force yesterday launched a major exercise to assess the capabilities of the Police Response Team (PRT) and the Police Maritime Division. The training commenced yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2015), will end on Saturday 29 August 2015. Members of the public are advised these planned training activities to ensure the community is not alarmed if they see an increased police presence. The exercise will include a number of activities, including Police Response exercises in Guadalcanal, Central Islands, Isabel and Malaita Provinces. These activities will also involve the use of RSIPF Maritime assets. The Police Patrol Boat Lata and a number of RAMSI Police vessels will take part in the exercise. The training activities which will be conducted over several days are designed to test a range of RSIPF capabilities from Command, Control and Coordination, operational planning and interoperability of units such as Logistics, Maritime and the PRT. RSIPF members have undertaken extensive PPF led training in, Command, Control and Coordination, operational planning as well as public order management and tactical police operations. The Police response team in particular will conduct exercises to assess their range of skills, including simulated land and sea operations. The PRT have also been trained to use and deploy non-lethal munitions as well as scenario based training pending staged limited rearmament of the RSIPF. All of this training is designed to ensure the appropriate use of force by police. During the police exercises, the RSIPF will be accompanied by PPF RAMSI Police Tactical Instructors who will assess members at each stage of the exercises. PRT members will be armed with simulation non-lethal weapons. The ammunition used during the exercise is designed for police training purposes and is not lethal; however, appropriate safety measure will also be carried out to prevent any minor injuries. Police Training Instructors will be asking members of the community to maintain a safe distance from the exercises to avoid the possibility of injury. The public is reminded that the RSIPF PRT is undertaking training and assessment exercises only and should not be concerned by a large police presence, loud noises or police vessels in their area. Training Operations such as these will be regular activities over the next two years as the RSIPF further prepares for RAMSI drawdown.