BY MYRNE LIVETT
Bloody ridge an urban settlement with more than 3500 settlers now sees its community policing in fruition with zero tolerance of crime since launching in October 2021.
The bloody ridge area is where three war monuments are installed in commemoration of US marines and Japanese Soldiers involved in WW2.
President of Bloody Ridge Community, Police Constable, Moses Maetabu with the help of the community has established community policing in the area, witnessing drastic change amongst youths that positively impact the world war battlefield community into a safe and peaceful home for residents and visitors.
“We started since last 8 months with training workshops, as of October last year we launched community policing bylaw inside bloody ridge so now we have community policing by law for people to adopt it.
“I trained 125 persons under task force implementation program under security bylaw and community policing bylaw.
“We have an agreement with the ministry of tourism for a development program to support our community. We build a security guard house and do clean-ups at the three monuments,” Maetabu said.
He furthered that it is very challenging, but with training involving young people they managed a zero tolerance of crime in the area, and so far they have zero crime that they submitted to the national police.
“We now have an easy bus route now. So from lunga to Kolina you only spend five dollars for bus fare, unlike in the past years it costs up to $50 to $100 dollars for Taxi fare.
Elder Maetabu said, his group is preparing for the biggest celebration that will happen on the 8th of August, next month, to celebrate the battlefield of Guadalcanal.
“We have to implement this small work and look forward to the celebration on the 8th of August after that we will have an MOU with the Ministry of Tourism to continue cleaning up this place.
“We also registered a security service with company haus to man this place 24 hours, seven days a week . I trained them on security protocols, fire safety and fire hazards, medical fitness, first aid, two-way radio communication, my task members received certificates.
“We encountered so many challenges, we have to fight against disorderly people, anti-policing people, and people who don’t want law, they want to break laws in the community. We arrested so far 25 people and brought them to the cell, some of them ended up at Rove, some of them returned, changed and apologize to the community and most of them joined security training.
He said, now 80% joined training and crime rate was reduced, and they are now at the front of the task force.
“People are really happy and thankful for what we leaders are doing here. We look forward to the national crime prevention unit will come with a sports program next month and also the ministry of health for other workshops for our young people. Also on Policing from the Central Police station, we also plan to build a clinic here to support the people,” Mr Maetabu said.
