Police in Solomon Islands say community support will be the backbone of their crime prevention strategy post RAMSI.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare inspects a guard of honour by members of the RSIPF before the opening of the National Response Department facility. Photo: RAMSI Public Affairs
The Australian and New Zealand led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands departs the country at the end of next month after having spent 14 years and billions of tax-payer dollars rebuilding both the country and its police force after a bloody ethnic conflict.
The deputy police commissioner of Solomon Islands Gabriel Manelusi said RAMSI leaves a highly trained and well equipped force which was ready to stand on its own two feet.
But he said community support would determine whether or not their crime prevention model of policing was successful in addressing drivers of crime in Solomon Islands.
"One is alcohol and drugs and also family violence and the third is issues affecting youth that is unemployment and environment and resources like mining and logging," Mr Manelusi said.
"Those are drivers of crime. And how can we share the cooperation together networking together to empower them in the problem solving."