A total of 280 police officers will be engaged in a police operation for the festive season throughout the country.
Acting Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau said the operation will commence soon.
“As earlier alluded 193 officers will be engage in the operation in Honiara and Guadalcanal,” Mr Mangau told reporters at the commissioner’s weekly conference yesterday.
He said a total of 280 officers will be engaged throughout the country in the provincial centres and outskirts of the provinces during the Christmas and New Year.
“The operation is a step up in terms of policing to provide a safety and peaceful period for our celebrations during the festive season,” he added.
He said they are looking at common offences like family violence, other offences and are also looking at communicating with the community through their crime prevention strategy.
“…also drinking in public is not encouraged as well.
“As we all know during festive season people tend to be over excite, over celebrating and might look at drinking alcohol out on the streets,” he said.
Mr Mangau further added that the right place to drink is at the licensed premises like the night clubs, pubs and bars where you have the privileges under their licenses to consume liquor.
He also said drinking in a moving vehicle is also an offence and reminded passengers not to get into vehicles if they know the driver is drunk.
The acting police chief also reminded drivers of public transport not to overload their vehicle during the festive season.
Community leaders and church leaders are also urged to encourage community members on doing the right thing to ensure they practice good behaviour inside the community.
“Don’t just celebrate and forget about your sole responsibility that lies upon us in our community to ensure that people practice good behaviour inside our community,” he warned.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
