While most aspects of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) have been well documented, less has been said about the significant contribution of the Pacific Island police who served with it. Pacific Islanders undertook important civilian roles, but the largest numbers were deployed to RAMSI’s Participating Police Force (PPF). Although the bulk of the PPF were from Australia and New Zealand, approximately one-fifth were Pacific Island police — referred to as the Pacific Island contingent (PI contingent) — from 13 countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Their contribution underscored the mission’s regional nature and sustained support for RAMSI.

Drawing on more than 100 interviews, this In Brief summarises preliminary findings from a research project supported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) that has been examining the experience and impact of RAMSI’s PI contingent on its individual participants, their home police organisations, and on regional policing more broadly.