POLICE are looking at addressing anti-social behaviour that are on the rise on the streets in Honiara City in preparation for the Pacific Games in November and December.
Police Commissioner, Mostyn Mangau, made this response when asked by a reporter at his weekly conference on Thursday on the issue of increasing mobile phone theft in Honiara.
“With the ongoing anti-social behaviour on the streets, we are working on a plan with other law enforcement agencies to try and curb street offences on the rise in Honiara in preparation towards the Pacific Games,” Commissioner Mangau said.
“The Safe and Green Games was already launched,” he said.
He said all Government Ministries are engaged in it and the green part of it involves all ministries, churches and other organisations participating in the clean-up in Honiara every Friday.
“….. so the safe part of that campaign is what we are working on that includes other law agencies,” he added.
He said this is to provide a safe and secure environment to support the government to host the Pacific Games.
“So, we are looking at dealing with the issues of anti-social behaviour on Honiara streets.
The Police Chief said it is not new and they actually dealt with some issues of pick-pocketing and stealing of mobile phones on the streets.
“We managed to retrieve some phones and give them back to their owners.
He said some phones are yet to be retrieved as they are either offline or have been locked.
“There are cases where we have to take orders from the court and liaise with Our Telekom to lock up the stolen mobile phones so they cannot be used in the country.
“There are processes in place,” he explained.
“So, if a case is reported, we take a court order to track down the phone and we arrest the suspect involved when we locate the phone.
“If the mobile phones we tracked are offline, then we will also take order from the court and liaise with Our Telekom to shut the phone down so that it will no longer be in use in the country.
“So, even if you take the mobile phone to an IT to open it, that would not be possible because the service provider has it locked.
Mr Mangau said those involved in such behaviour must know they cannot hide as there are processes in place to track stolen mobile phones.
He then reminded anyone purchasing a mobile phone to always keep its box.
“The box contains important information such as the serial number and IMEI number which the service provider will need to be able to track it down.
“But if you make a report but do not know your IMEI number, it will be quite difficult to track your mobile phone,” he said.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
