BY ROMINAH FAKA

The Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) has held its second training with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in supporting vulnerable sexual offence witnesses throughout the prosecution process.

Director of Public Prosecution Office Andrew Kelesi highlighted the importance of the training as his office receives almost 50 to 60 percent of sexual offences cases each year.

“This training will help you equip you to produce quality statements when obtaining statement from the vulnerable victims from sexual offences cases,” Kelesi said.

“Every victim whether children or adult they should be treated equally and with respect.”

Kelesi thanked the Australia Solomon Islands Partnership in Justice (ASIPJ) for their continued support to the ODPP.

The purpose of the training was to broaden participant’s knowledge on sexual offences in Solomon Islands, to understand how to correctly select charges, to understand the ODPP Police on Selection of Charges, to ensure consistent approach for charging sexual offences and to understand how to particularise sex offences.  

The training also highlighted guidelines for use of the ODPP pikinini video series created by the Office of Director Public Prosecution, to assist police officers who work with child witnesses, including victims of sexual and gender-based violence.

ODPP Principal Legal Officer Letiara Pellie and Hellen Bennett, senior witness support officer who conducted the training, also highlighted in their presentation the importances of the Pikinini Video which their office created as it helps provides the important information’s to children about the court process, including an explanation about safeguards that are available for when a child gives evidence in court.

Ms Pellie and Ms Bennett added, the video allows for important information to be communicated to child witnesses in a clear, consistent and child-friendly way. They are also important resources for parents, family members so that everyone understands what to expect during the court process.

“The video helps as a guideline to assist prosecutors, witness support officers, police officers and others working with children,” Pellie said.

The training was held at Police Headquarter Conference at Rove, attended by a representative of DFAT, Director of Public Prosecution Office and officers from the Sexual Assault Units within the RSIPF.

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