A VISITING academic from the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji, commends the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) for implementing the executive decision of recruiting equal number of males and females into its new recruit intake every year.
Dr Danielle Watson, Coordinator of the Pacific Policing Program at the USP, was invited as a Guest Speaker at the Conference of Provincial Police Commanders and Directors currently underway in Honiara.
Speaking on the topic of “Strategic Shifts Towards More Service Oriented Policing in Solomon Islands – Rethinking (wo) Manpower Allocation”, Dr Watson commended the Executive of RSIPF for implementing the 50/50 recruitment decision.
“RSIPF must be congratulated for this Executive decision as it is leading the other countries in the Pacific region in this area,” says Dr Watson.
“But with this achievement, the leadership in the RSIPF which includes provincial police commanders and directors must now start some rethinking on implementing policies that will enhance the Crime Prevention Strategy that is currently rolled out in the country,” she added.
“Issues that could be addressed include adapting job descriptions to reflect the community oriented policing model, rethinking training, creating tertiary training opportunities for female officers, organising recruitment events targeting females and rethinking where female officers are placed within the Force.”
Dr Watson used the opportunity of the conference to brief RSIPF officers on the revised Pacific Policing Program being offered fully online through the USP and the new strategies being employed to assist professionals attempting to balance work and study.
