HONIARA City Council (HCC) is under scrutiny following allegations that its law enforcement officers used excessive force on a female street vendor recently.
The incident, which occurred Monday 5 February, has raised concerns about the conduct of HCC’s enforcement team.
In its Press Release, HCC attributed the altercation to the woman’s alleged illegal sale of betelnuts on the street.
The council claimed that the woman resisted arrest and attempted to flee, resulting in two female law enforcement officers apprehending her and placing her in a patrol vehicle.
Head of the Law Enforcement Department Robert Madeo asserted that the woman further escalated the situation when she was placed in the patrol vehicle by engaging in behavior that was culturally inappropriate.
Mr Madeo said the women soiled her jeans, rubbed faeces on her face, body, and the backseat of the Law Enforcement Landcruiser.
He suggested that the woman, through her ignorance, resistance, and aggressive behavior, managed to escape custody.
However, questions arose when the condition of the woman’s face, as depicted in a social media post, was swollen.
One HCC officer attributed this to the woman banging her head inside the patrol vehicle and on a table in the law enforcement office.
Critics argue that the force applied was excessive and unwarranted, calling for a thorough police investigation into the incident.
Some commentators questioned the qualifications and training of HCC enforcement officers, suggesting that the council refrain from employing individuals without adequate qualification for such roles.
Social media responses reflected public outrage, condemning the alleged brutality against a struggling mother attempting to support her family.
Calls for the victim to file a complaint with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and pursue formal charges against the HCC officers resonated across online platforms.
In response, the HCC Law Enforcement Department urged all street vendors to adhere to council ordinances and directed betelnut sellers to operate exclusively at Gegema Betelnut Market in Tuvaruhu, Marble Street, Central Honiara.
The incident has ignited a broader conversation about the use of force by local authorities and the need for accountability in maintaining public order.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Honiara, Solomon Star
