The Participating Police Force (PPF) has a new commander after Mark Ney left the mission prematurely on medical grounds.
John Tanti was introduced to the media during the weekly police conference on Thursday at the Rove Police headquarters after serving as commander here for about a month now.
He will be here until the Regional Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) concludes in June next year.
“I have worked in Pacific previously with the Pacific Island Forum secretariat as adviser and law and enforcement security matters mostly on capacity development perspective but also worked with APF having served in East Timor in UN mission and in Thailand as police attaché,” Tanti said.
He said as well as having other commands in Aviation Security Tactical policing, drive investigations and community police he has gone through quite a stretch of discipline.
Tanti said he has confidence in the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), which is why he even brought his wife and child to come here with him and have them educated here.
“It’s not that there is not much work to be done in respect of building capacity, that is a perpetual journey for all agencies.”
In terms of capacity building, Tanti said capacity building journey with the PPF and RSIPF is really a good partnership.
“I found myself really personally enjoyed being brought into RSIPF family and consultant as a friend.
“And what we now see in terms of the engagement in capacity development is the coming together of very solid foundation police capability in RSIPF.
“And the solid understanding of the community and the strong drive to engage with them through the crime prevention program strategy and the community engagement strategy.
“And then just bring some ideas from different policing agencies to help some of the structures and some of the capabilities we have might well be useful to the people of Solomon Islands and the RSIPF.
“My view on capacity development is that so much capacity has been built.” Tanti said.
He said at the RSIPF, there is a very capable executive team showing incredible leadership.
“There has been some highly functioning and highly committed individual working in different disciplines whether it be fire area or in Police Response Team (PRT) or community policing.
“Like in Australia, we continue to involve ourselves trying to build greater capability and that will also be a story for agencies like the RSIPF.”
On a personal note, Tanti said it’s good to be back in the Pacific, as he loves the climate and many things about Pacific culture.
“It is terrific to be here.”
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
