BY LORETTA B MANELE
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has strengthened the capability of its specialist team of highly trained officers responsible for conducting investigations into sexual assault cases against children and vulnerable people.
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in a statement said the Sexual Assault Squad (SAS), within the National Criminal Investigations Department (NCID) had recently undertaken further training.
This training as stated, was on specialist interviewing techniques to enable investigators to obtain detailed and thorough victim and witness statements during investigations as well as to empower victims of crime to tell their story and give back the voice taken from them by their assailant.
RSIPF investigators during the delivery of the Vulnerable Witness Foundation and skills refresher programs also learned about the importance of recorded evidence and how it can be used in court.
In addition, participants of the training had an opportunity to visit local schools, where they practiced their new skills by engaging with students of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of communication and understanding.
After the training reached completion, investigators received specialised equipment and a dedicated victim interviewing room.
The specialised equipment is an audio-visual recording equipment, funded by the Pacific Community for Law Enforcement Cooperation (PCLEC) Small Grants program and supported by the AFP that will enhance RSIPF’s SAS in supporting victims of abuse and gender-based violence.
“The equipment is vital for accurately capturing interviews with vulnerable individuals, recording both verbal accounts and non-verbal cues such as body language and gestures,” said RSIPF.
As for the victim interviewing room, it is designed with comfortable seating and a calming atmosphere hence, is a room that offers a secure, distraction-free environment intended to make victims feel at ease during interviews.
To top that off, PCLEC also funded the construction of an on-site children’s playground behind SAS office within the Rove Police Headquarter.
The playground is to serve as a therapeutic space, helping to reduce stress for child victims and creating an environment that supports open and honest communication.
At the official gifting ceremony at Rove Police Headquarters, RSIPF Supervising Assistant Commissioner (AC) Crime, Rodney Wheatney spoke on how the establishment of the playground will impact the work of investigators.
“The establishment of the playground will provide investigators with the tools to establish trust and build rapport with victims and their families, while at the same time ensuring victims feel safe and comfortable,” he said.
RSIPF said this training was supported by Australian Federal Police (AFP) specialist investigators who work with RSIPF to strengthen investigations in both Solomon Islands and Australia.
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