The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner, Mohammed Jahir Khan has abandoned his plan to rearm the police.
Speaking to the media Mr Khan says he took the decision a month ago following consultation with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
He says instead of arming the local police, he will be looking into the possibility of a regional police providing armed security for the Prime Minister and Governor General.
He says earlier plans for Papua New Guinea to provide armed security for VIP's will also be shelved but they will be merged with the regional police to provide armed security.
But Mr Khan says he is now looking forward to next year to rearm the local police after a wide spread awareness programme on rearmament is done.
