The Solomon Island police commissioner has appointed foreigners to replace two top officers, John Homelo and Wilfred Akao, who were arrested in the past week.
William Morrell, who is British, says Ben McDevitt will take over the responsibilities of Assistant Commissioner Homelo.
And Assistant Commissioner in charge of Honiara, John Lansley, will replace Wilfred Akao.
Commissioner Morrell says he believes that locals won't be concerned the top police positions are all occupied by foreigners.
"My gut feeling is they will be welcomed. Many places I go and people I speak to say can we not get some more expatriate police officers in here or wantok system within the Solomon Islands where there is a great allegiance to your own ethnic group. That's clearly a threat to the integrity of the police service and I think bringing in independent and objective police officers helps deal with some of those issues."
Commissioner William Morrell.
