The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have marked another milestone, with the deployment of three RSIPF officers to the United Nations (UN) / African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The officers will depart Honiara on Saturday 20 August 2016.
During a Commissioning Parade held at the Rove Police Headquarters today, Acting Commissioner Juanita Matanga commented ‘Today marks another milestone and an important occasion for Solomon Islands and RSIPF, the commissioning of RSIPF officers deployed to UN Mission duty overseas.’
In December 2013, the United Nations (UN) Secretariat made representation to the Permanent Mission for Solomon Islands to the United Nations to consider approving deployment of suitably qualified RSIPF members to UN missions around the world.
The Solomon Islands Government and RSIPF Executive were supportive of this action, as they believed UN recognition and deployment was an indication of the development of RSIPF capability and capacity. The RSIPF Commissioner Frank Prendergast sought the assistance of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in the preparation of RSIPF officers to deploy to UN missions.
Following an Expression of Interest process which saw 137 RSIPF officers apply, the applications were shortlisted to a group of officers who would undergo medical gateways, driver training, firearms training and completion of the UN Core Pre-Deployment Training and Specialist Training modules.
From this process, 8 officers were selected to attend Pre-Deployment and Capacity Development Training courses with International Operations in Canberra in September and November 2015.
On 2 August 2016, the UN advised the RSIPF Commissioner that three officers had been approved to deploy on 20 August 2016, and in this period a range of activities were conducted, supported by the RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF), including mission briefings, UN Online training, refreshed driver training and coaching and mock tests to prepare the officers for UN tests which will be conducted in the Mission.
Two additional officers are awaiting UN approval to deploy on 3 September 2016.
The UN deployment is a further tangible sign of the development of the RSIPF since the RAMSI intervention in June 2003.
Their deployment to a UN mission highlights the capabilities of the force following 13 years of training and mentoring from RAMSI, and the deployment will strengthen the reputation already held that they are one of the best police forces in the Pacific region.
Acting Commissioner Matanga stated, ‘Our RSIPF officers will join many other police officers from around the world serving in UN missions. Today, we witness the commissioning of these officers as they prepare for their deployment and departure this weekend.’ She thanked a number of stakeholders who supported preparations for the deployment including the Solomon Islands Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, the PPF and the AFP.
The RSIPF is currently completing an internal Expression of Interest for another UN deployment and RAMSI and the AFP will again be supporting the preparation and training of officers to deploy to the UN in 2017.
Recently RSIPF officers have also provided training to other Pacific nations including Narau and Vanuatu, in the fields of Public Order Management and Operational Safety Training.
The RSIPF officers will be deployed to UNAMID for a 12 month deployment, with the potential to extend beyond this period should the UN request this.