The Police Response Team (PRT) of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) executed a covert operation at 5 am on Thursday 17 March 2022 at Bethel Village, East Fataleka, Malaita Province to arrest Noxley ATU (suspect) who has evaded police arrest in numerous occasions for his involvement in the recent unrest (riot and looting) in Honiara on November 2021.
The Police Respond Team (PRT) was at that location condoning the house of the suspect when the villagers were alarmed and came out in numbers and attacked the PRT team, with dangerous weapons such as spears, stones, slings, bows, arrows, etc.
The PRT team deployed less lethal munitions (smoke) to protect themselves and tactically withdraw. Despite that, the villagers with men, women, and children continued to attack the PRT operators until they boarded their transport.
The RSIPF condemns in the strongest terms the unprovoked attacks made by the villagers of Bethel towards RSIPF members who are there lawfully executing their duties as mandated to them by law. Communities are urged to respect the law and stop interfering with Police officers executing their duties, which is an offense under the law.
RSIPF deny claims made by media that about 20 PRT officers have entered the village and discriminately fired tear gas at the village. This reporting is false. A PRT team of eight officers only discharged the less-lethal munition when the villagers attacked them.
PRT only discharges the less-lethal munitions in the location of the suspect’s house, which is situated in the far end of the village and outside of the village when the villagers follow them and attack them on their way to their boat.
RSIPF Commissioner Mr. Mostyn Mangau said, “In any police operation when there is a greater risk tactical commanders have to make some critical decision to protect officers on the operation. This is a normal police operation where the use of tactical options is there.”
Commissioner said, “The suspect has already escaped before the PRT arrival in the area of operation and I call on the suspect to surrender himself to police.”
“The villagers have already been waiting for PRT and attacked them with dangerous weapons such as slings, spears, bows, and arrows on their arrival.”
Mr. Mangau sad, “The arrest team was attacked from every direction and they had to apply tactical options to restrain in self-defense for their safety as the whole community overran them but with their experience and they tactically managed to withdraw unhurt.”
He said, “Several attempts made by police to dialogue with community leaders to surrender the suspect have failed. Police even call on the suspect to surrender himself but he refuses to surrender. So now, I appeal again to the suspect to surrender yourself to the police or you will be hunted down in full force to face justice.”
“Police will not give up in coming to arrest you, therefore the best decision to make is to surrender yourself to any nearest police station,” said Commissioner.
The Police Chief said, “If the community is not happy with police actions of the PRT officers then the Professional Standard Internal Investigation (PSII) office is there to lodge your complaints about further investigation.”
SOURCE: RSIPF MEDIA UNIT
