CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY SIGNED OFF: PRENDERGAST

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Crime Prevention Strategy has been signed off and is now with the Minister of Police, National Security, and Correctional Services.

Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast confirms.

Acknowledging the Strategy as very important for the RSIPF, Mr. Prendergast says it has been finalised and forwarded to the Minister of Police.

“The strategy has been finalised and signed off and we’ve forwarded to the Minister for his comments and perhaps forwarding to parliament or to the Cabinet. We’re also in the process of consulting with community groups in Honiara, Guadalcanal and elsewhere in the country about that strategy, so what it really designed to do is for Police to work with the community to stop things occurring.”

The Police Boss says the strategy focuses on understanding the causes of crime in the community, adding it is a long-term plan.

“One of the focuses of the strategy is understanding what’s causing crime in our communities and to attack the causes of those crimes in conjunction with the community and with other stakeholders, so clearly alcohol is a problem. Illegal alcohol, kwaso or even the illegal sale of other products so we’ve been working with a number of communities about those type of issues and having some success, but this is a long-term strategy, it really is about changing the way that Police operate. It’s really important in this strategy that the Police have the confidence of the community because we need to work together.”