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To help the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) conduct a safe and secure Joint Election, more AFP members have travelled to the Solomon Islands.
With this deployment, the AFP now has over 130 people on the ground.
The Joint Elections are scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, 2024, and the RSIPF is in charge of organising security for the event. The simultaneous running of the Honiara City Council and provincial elections is a first for the Solomon Islands.
The AFP is assisting the RSIPF in a number of ways at the government of the Solomon Islands' request, such as by conducting high visibility patrols and guarding vital infrastructure to help the RSIPF keep the peace and security during the election period.
The AFP will provide support throughout the entire nation, with personnel stationed in Honiara and the neighbouring island provinces.
The AFP will collaborate with the Australian Defence Force and its Pacific partners from Fiji, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea through the Solomons' International Assistance Force (SIAF).
Through SIAF as well as the AFP and RSIPF Policing Partnership Programme (RAPPP), the AFP has been collaborating with the RSIPF to create operational planning and improved capabilities prior to the elections.
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This includes:
Procuring operational, training and administrative equipment required by RSIPF for operational readiness and response;
Facilitating tailored training and workshops to ensure RSIPF is prepared to swiftly and effectively respond to any security incidents; and
Providing specialist advisory support to RSIPF in the planning and execution of operational orders for the Joint Elections.
AFP Commander Heath Davies said the RSIPF was ready and equipped to deliver the Joint Elections.
“The AFP has been working closely with the RSIPF on the planning and coordination of this significant event for the past few months,” Commander Davies said.
“The RSIPF is very well positioned to lead the security efforts and the AFP is proud to be standing alongside its partners to ensure communities across the country are safe during the election period.
“The AFP has a long-standing partnership with the RSIPF, most recently demonstrated by the successful delivery of the security operation for last year’s Pacific Games.
“AFP members are on the ground and are again ready and excited to assist under the direction of the RSIPF.”
RSIPF Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said he was happy that AFP through SIAF had been supporting RSIPF in the preparation for the joint elections.
“It is a partnership that really helps the capacity development of RSIPF,” Commissioner Mangau said.
“The RSIPF has the support from our neighboring countries and is ready to deal with anyone who wants to disturb the joint election process.
“We will work together for a safe and secure joint elections for the good of Solomon Islands.”
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