THREE officers from the Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services (SPPCS) are currently in the country to exchange their policing expertise with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Pacific Games 2023 (PG23) Planning Team, in anticipation of the Pacific Games in November.
According to the Police Media Unit, the team arrived in the country on Sunday, July 16, and will be departing on July 20, 2023, after visiting various departments within the RSIPF.
During their visit, the team had the opportunity to tour the RSIPF Police Maritime, the Australian Federal Police (AF) operation office in Honiara, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team at Hells Point, and the RSIPF Executive.
Conversely, the RSIPF shared their drone, maritime, and EOD capabilities with the three-member SPPCS team, who were invited to the country as part of this exchange.
Having gained extensive experience from the previous Pacific Games held in Apia, Samoa, in 2019, the three-member SPPCS team was requested by the RSIPF to participate in this initiative.
The exchange program between the SPPCS and RSIPF Planning Teams was established through the joint efforts of the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the RSIPF Planning Team, with financial support from the Samoa-Australia Policing Partnership (SAPP).
Expressing gratitude, Mr. Ian Vaevaso, RSIPF Deputy Commissioner (DC) National Security and Operation Support, thanked the SPPCS officers for accepting the RSIPF’s invitation and for sharing their valuable experiences.
DC Vaevaso emphasized that the exchange of information would greatly benefit the RSIPF officers involved in the planning team, as they prepare for PG23.
“The visit by the Samoa police officers will greatly assist the RSIPF in its preparations for the games, considering their expertise in policing major events such as the Pacific Games held in Samoa,” stated DC Vaevaso.
