Police chiefs around the Pacific say community engagements through policing is key to restoring peace in the Solomon Islands.
The Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police group met this week to discuss ways of assisting the Solomons after the political unrest in the capital Honiara.
Solomons Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau told the virtual meeting a 294-member international contingent is assisting their efforts to restore peace in the city.
Mr Mangau said other key areas include the strengthening of relations with crime prevention committees, sustaining law and order, intelligence sharing, capabilities and investigations.
.. Photo: Supplied
The virtual meeting included police chiefs from Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.
Chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho from Fiji, said member countries stood ready to assist their Solomon Islands comrades and to support regional efforts.
"At the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters and as chiefs of police we are here to help you in whatever way we can.
"We know you want security which you have worked on, stability which has quickly been re-established so you can get back to prosperity and people can continue with their daily lives."
Three people died after their bodies were found in one of the burnt-out buildings in Chinatown.
More than 100 people have been arrested following three days of rioting and looting in Honiara.
Meanwhile, Australia's Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw stressed that law enforcement could often traverse politics as policing is all about keeping communities safe.
Other member states of the PICP include the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and the three Pacific US territories of Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas.
New Zealand Defence Force and Police personnel are heading to Honiara, Solomon Islands. Photo: NZ Defence Force
