6 Oct 2003

Search for funding in Solomon Islands to stand down remaining special constables

11:11 am on 6 October 2003

The Solomon Islands police commissioner says they are hoping to organise some funding to help the last 250 special constables being stood down to settle into civilian life.

Earlier this year about 800 special constables or SCs were demobilized under a programme run by the UNDP.

Many of them were former militants and had been blamed for much of the criminal activity in the country.

Commissioner Bill Morrell says he has sacked several dozen but most of those SCs that remained had been with the force for a number of years and their services were still needed, especially in rural areas.

He says by the end of the year there will be no SCs left in the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.