31 Jul 2003

Solomons police commissioner thinks not all illegal guns have been recovered

10:45 am on 31 July 2003

The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner says he thinks guns were moved from Honiara to Malaita after an ultimatum was issued for police to surrender illegal weapons by Monday night.

38 guns were handed in and Bill Morrell says that result is better than nothing.

He says he is not sure if there are more guns still held by police.

"I suspect there are others out there. The areas we asked to hand in was just sort of Honiara, and Guadalcanal in the area around Honiarara. I suspect some guns were moved across to Malaita and I will make the same conditions in Malaita in the coming days."

Police who continue to hold onto guns illegally have been threatened with the sack and prosecution.