20 Feb 2007

Banned Solomons police commissioner quits profession

2:46 pm on 20 February 2007

The Solomon Islands police commissioner who was declared persona non grata by the government has announced his retirement from the police.

Shane Castles was dismissed in December and barred from returning to Honiara as the government labelled him a threat to the country's public security and morality.

Mr Castles served for 32 years with the Australian federal police.

He says he has taken advice on the way he was sacked and the judgment was that legal action would be difficult.

Last week, the Solomons opposition wanted to debate the government moves against Mr Castles but government MPs boycotted the parliamentary sitting which prompted the speaker to close the sitting because of a lack of quorum.

The opposition had also vowed to re-engage Mr Castles if it won a no confidence vote in the Manasseh Sogavare-led government due to be held within a week.