New police chief pledges 'stability'

Mr Morrell got a "lively" welcome at the Islands' capital

A former UK senior police officer has pledged to bring stability to the Solomon Islands after becoming its police commissioner.

William Morrell took up his post on Tuesday on the islands that have been riven by ethnic conflict, after working for 28 years as a police officer in the UK.

Radio Australia reported he and his wife Mary had a "lively welcome" at islands' capital, Honiara, with warriors, carrying spears and axes, charging out to the airport tarmac.

Mr Morrell took up the post just a month after leaving his last job as chief superintendent of uniform with Greater Manchester Police.

[I want] to build a professional police service where the officers can have pride and the peoples' confidence

William Morrell

He will head up a police service that includes some officers who helped stage a coup on the islands in 2000.

Mr Morrell told a press conference he would do all he can to defend all citizens' human rights and build a professional police service.

He said his priority was to find out about the island's culture and its problems before getting to work.

He said: " I will do the very best I can to help bring stability to the Solomon Islands, [and] to defend human rights of everybody.

Official welcome

"[I also want] to encourage equality of opportunity and to build a professional police service where the officers can have pride and the peoples' confidence."

His contract, which is for two years, has been 80% funded by the European Union, with the remainder coming from the UK and other donor countries.

Mr Morrell will be officially welcomed to his role at ceremony to be held at police headquarters in Honiara on Thursday.