BY LORETTA B MANELE
Australia is incredibly proud to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Prosecutors Qualifying Course says Councillor Nicole Smith of the Australian High Commission.
She was speaking at a ceremony held at Rove Police Headquater on Monday, September 15, 2025 to mark not only the reopening of the Prosecutors Qualifying Course but it’s first day, catering to 22 police officers.
This course was last conducted in 2018 and now it is being carried out again with funding support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Smith expressed that Australis is incredibly proud to support the RSIPF with this course as part of the broader partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia.
She said they understand the important role prosecutors play in upholding the rule of the law and access of justice for all Solomon Islanders.
Moreover, Smith stressed that through their conversation with Rodney Wheatney, Director of Police Prosecution Department, they understand how challenging it is to build up a strong prosecution team.
“We talked a lot about a lot coming through. So, on the one part, that’s really positive.
“Because skills are built up and they are going through other parts of RSIPF. But I also appreciate the challenges of keeping and retaining staff,” she said.
Smith went on to stress that they also understand the challenges of supporting prosecutions across Solomon Islands and out into the provinces.
On this note, she highlighted that it is really fantastic that of the 22 police officers participating in the course, 12 of them came from the provinces.
“It’s really fantastic. And again, just demonstrates that Australia’s law and justice system really touches and is supporting across all nine provinces,” said Smith.
She stated that this is why Australia is committed to working alongside Solomon Islands police and it is not just in terms of training but in their ongoing efforts across law and the justice sector in Solomon Islands.
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