BALIPA’A villagers in Reef Islands, Temotu Province are calling on the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to investigate its officers manning the station on the Reef Islands.
A spokesperson for the villagers, who refused to be named, made this statement following an incident on Saturday at Balipa’a Village.
“On Saturday police went to our village to arrest some youths who damaged properties of another family.
“This is a police case and as villagers we know that these youths will have to face the law for what they did.
“Unfortunately, when the police came to make the arrest they were all drunk,” the villager said.
He said this was what the villagers were unhappy about.
“These officers should not consume alcohol when on duty because while making the arrests under liquor they also harassed a woman in our village when they were searching for the youths,” he said.
He said initially when the youths saw the drunken officers they refused to go with them.
“Police officers should set a good example to people especially the youths.
“How can we have confidence in our police when these officers are doing the opposite to what their roles and responsibilities should be?
“We want the RSIPF bosses to investigate these officers in the Reef Islands immediately,” the concerned villager said.
He said villagers no longer have any confidence with police officers on the island and wanted them replaced.
By LESLEY SANGA
