The Solomon Islands prime minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has announced that the police will be re-armed.
Mr Lilo made the announcement at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara.
This comes nearly nine years after the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission which collected all weapons to end the lawlessness and strongarm tactics related to the ethnic tension.
Mr Lilo says the time is ripe for change.
"Cabinet has endorsed the use of less lethal ammunitions by the police response team as requested by the executive of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force."
The Solomon Islands Acting Police Commissioner Walter Kola has welcomed the announcement.
