24 March 2022
Solomon Islands Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. Anthony Veke has commended the Governments of Solomon Islands (SI) and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) for entering into a Memorandum of Understanding on Policing Cooperation.
On March 18, Wang Xiaohong, party secretary of the CPC Committee and executive vice minister in charge of daily work of the Ministry of Public Security of People’s Republic of China, held a virtual meeting with Anthony Veke, minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services of Solomon Islands and signed the MOU between the government of the Solomon Islands and the government of the People’s Republic of China on Policing Cooperation.
Wang Xiaohong said that, since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and SI, under the strategic guidance of President H.E.Xi Jinping and Prime Minister H.E.Manasseh Sogavare, the bilateral relations have developed rapidly and achieved fruitful results.
He says China is ready to work with Solomon Islands to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries earnestly, and advance practical cooperation in police and law enforcement actively, and push bilateral relations to a higher level constantly.
Hon. Veke appreciates the police support provided by Ministry of Public Security of People’s Republic of China.
He said that Solomon Islands government attaches great importance to the relations with China and expressed that Solomon Islands would like to strengthen bilateral police and law enforcement cooperation and move ahead with bilateral relations frequently.
“The signing of this MOU simply shows to the global community that we are here building meaningful cooperation, one that is based on teamwork and seriousness to develop Solomon Islands,” Veke said.
The MOU partnership is done with much consideration by the Solomon Islands government in building the relationship in a meaningful and productive manner.
Li Ming, China's ambassador to SI, Karen Galokale, Permanent Secretary to the MPNSCS, and Mostyn Mangau, Commissioner of the RSIPF attended the conference.
Source: GCU
Comment
It is my great wish that following the signing of the MoU between the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China and the Solomon Islands Government said to be aimed at strengthening bilateral police and law enforcement cooperation and move ahead with bilateral relations frequently, the basic fundamentals of policing that were first introduced by Sir Robert Peel, a former UK Home Secretary will be strictly adhered to in terms of law enforcement in the Solomon Islands.
For information, Sir Roberts policing principles, which stand good today, were these –
To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by armed force and
To recognize always that the power of the police to fulfill their functions and duties is
To recognize always that to secure and maintain the respect and approval of the public
To recognize always that the extent to which the cooperation of the public can be secured
I hope too that community policing will continue as the community policing policy is an explicit effort to create a more democratic police service It is based on the assumption that policing will be more effective if it has the support of, and input from the community and if it recognizes the social service and order maintenance aspects of the citizens needs and rights.
Let me conclude by also mentioning how using excessive force, rather than minimum force, is wrong and excessive force in instances of police use can lead to injury and death. Although it can be argued such use of excessive force a minority of citizens, it also effects everyone else.
Incidents of excessive use of force strain police relationhips with all citizens and call into question police legitimacy.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
