In 1997 when police establishment numbers were below 700 for the whole country, given there was a strict moratorium on recruitment due to the massive debts the incoming SIAC administration faced on coming into office, I made it my first task on becoming the police commissioner to issue a policy document, which I paid for myself and had printed in Singapore, and which I titled, ‘Royal Solomon Islands Police Service Purpose and Direction.’
Inside that detailed document given to the government and to the police service members, I addressed the following.
The need for a corporate vision.
Mission Statement
Statement of strategic intentions – How are we going to get there? Customer focus.
Statement of strategic intentions – Community leadership.
Statement of strategic intentions – Localised service delivery
Statement of strategic intentions – Problem solving.
Statement of strategic intentions – Managerial accountability.
Achieving our strategic intentions – Developing and motivating our people.
Statement of common values.
The policy document was instrumental in shaping the police service and at the core was the emphasis on community policing which was what I commented on today in seeing the RSIPF carrying out the policy principles in engaging with the chiefs, elders and communities on the Western border which poses a risk through the entry of coronavirus across the neighbouring stretch of waters with Bonginville.
Specifically in crafting the community police model, I said this, and I quote.
If the service is to meet the safety and security needs and expectations of the community it must position itself within the local and wider communities as a leadership body co-ordinating community wide efforts to deal with problems and ensuring the effective contribution of other organizations with appropriate skills and training.
To position the Service in a leadership position on a country wide level we will:
* Take a greater interest and establish more control over developments which impact on the business of policing.
* Establish central groups or task forces aimed at addressing specific issues and with responsibility for directing and co-ordinating efforts at the local community level.
* Influence developments and return of the criminal justice system.
* We will inform members of the community on how they can contribute to resolving problems and provide the means through which participation can be achieved.
* Co-ordinate and ensure the involvement of key local individuals and groups, for example ethnic and special interest groups, private sector organizations, other government agencies, local authorities, and victims and support groups.
* Train local management to deal effectively and confidentially with the media.
Nowadays, with the creation of the Police Media team and the secondment of some foreign police advisors to the RSIPF relations with the media generally stem from those handing police public relations in the police commissioners office.
In 1997 and 1998 with the help of the then Commissioner of Police in Singapore and with additional support from the government of Japan, several senior police officers, including the then Deputy Commissioner, went to Singapore for extensive community policing training, based on the success the Singapore Police had with community policing at home.
It was my priority to develop action plans and tactics based on local knowledge, experience and contacts, reflecting the different needs and priorities of local communities within the Solomon Islands, and community policing best fitted to what I hoped to achieve within the broader framework of the Purpose and Direction Policy.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
