RESIDENTS of Lau Valley community in east Honiara are supporting other nearby communities on the call for more active police participation in their community.
Speaking to the Solomon Star on Tuesday, community elder Peter Wale said there is a serious need for police to step up its operations within the communities on the outskirts of Honiara.
Mr Wale added the increase of disturbance caused by kwaso and marijuana users in the area is a serious concern for the elders there.
“Our calls to Naha police station were not always responded to, that is why we are calling for active police presence in our area,” Mr Wale said.
“Most of the time, the officers manning the stations said they could not attend to our calls due to transport difficulties,” he added.
“At one time, I talked to an officer but he said it was only him working that night. This shows that we are not moving forward but backwards.
“How would you expect communities to help in curbing unlawful activities when you fail to play your part?”
Mr Wale saidthey would really love to work together with the police but their (police) ineffective performance in their work around the areas of their vicinity is a setback for them.
Meanwhile, last week Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast told the media that the Naha police station will be closed down soon.
He explained the complex will be knocked down to give way for a new complex.
Mr Prendergast said the new complex will be a significant and improved one compared to the existing building.
He said the new building complex will have police cells, accommodation for standby teams, a number of operation rooms that can be used to run business of the RSIPF, parking space for vehicles including fire trucks.
He added that there will also be rooms for emergency storage.
This latest revelation received support from the people living around the Naha police post’s locality and they are hoping for a totally different police approach in east Honiara in the future, compared to now.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA
