Additional members of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have landed in Honiara yesterday (8 November) ahead of the 17th Pacific Games event which will get underway in Honiara in just over a week time.
The AFP members were greeted by the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Rod Hilton, the AFP Solomon Islands Commander, Heath Davies, and Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Mostyn Mangau, at the Henderson International Airport tarmac upon arrival.
Over 100 AFP members who arrived will joined their colleagues who are already in the country.
AFP members will be supporting the RSIPF in planning, coordinating and executing a safe and secure event.
At the request of the Solomon Islands Government, AFP members will be assisting the RSIPF in various capacities across Honiara and the games venues in support of the RSIPF Pacific Games operation.
The AFP, through the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) and the RSIPF and AFP Policing Partnership Program (RAPPP), has been working with the RSIPF to develop both operational planning and enhanced capabilities ahead of the games.
Among other things, the AFP has been supporting the RSIPF with;
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Funding and managing infrastructure projects that are critical to the delivery of the Pacific Games, including the rebuild of the Kukum Police Station and upgrade of the RSIPF Police Operations Centre (POC);
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Delivery of community engagement activities with the RSIPF to establish key community contacts and relationships with Honiara youth and community leaders through engagement in sporting and cultural events;
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Establishing the RSIPF Drone Support Unit, including capability development, equipment and training to support the operational delivery of the Pacific Games;
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Uplifting RSIPF’s forensic capability with additional training, equipment and infrastructure upgrades;
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Facilitating tailored training and workshops in public order management (POM) and close personal protection (CPP);
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Facilitating exchange programs where RSIPF officers have travelled to Australia to work with the AFP in the areas of aviation, protection, intelligence, specialist capabilities and major events planning;
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Procuring equipment as part of a Pacific Games 2023 support package to bolster RSIPF’s ability to provide a safe and green games including POM equipment, ceremonial and operational police uniforms, and traffic and road safety equipment; and
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Providing vehicles to strengthen RSIPF’s mobility and operational capacity for the games, including a tEODor Remote Positioning Vehicle to manage the risk of explosive devices, four new vehicles to establish the RSIPF Mobile Protection Unit, nine vehicles for the RSIPF Police Response Team and a logistics truck.