NSW police officers have had to abandon their Solomon Islands peacekeeping mission

A planned Solomon Islands peacekeeping mission by members of the NSW Police Force has been dramatically cancelled as they were preparing to board the flight.

A peacekeeping mission to the troubled Solomon Islands has been dramatically aborted after NSW Police officers were told “last minute” they would have to quarantine for two out of the three scheduled weeks.

The fully-vaccinated officers were preparing to board an ADF flight to the Pacific nation when they learned of the new requirement, which has been linked to fears over the Omicron variant.

However, there is also suspicion among government officials that China may be involved, given the growing international presence of peacekeepers.

The state government announced only last week that it would be deploying 15 officers to the Solomon Islands following a request from the federal government.

A buildign next to the Solomon Islands parliament on fire during the recent tensions in the region. Picture: Charley Piringi / AFP

The request followed escalating violence on the Pacific nation over its increasing links to China, which has led to riots and looting.

The NSW Police Public Order and Riot squad officers – one inspector, two sergeants and 12 constables – were to have helped support local police and provided humanitarian assistance.

The officers were in Canberra having their final dinner on Friday after being sworn into the Australian Federal Police ahead of leaving for Honiara, only to find out the trip was off.

The decision followed a meeting of the Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, Police Minister David Elliott and Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Australian soldiers conducted a brief patrol of a burnt out area in China Town, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Picture: Gary Ramage

It is understood Mr Elliott – a former army officer who served as a peacekeeper in the region – is furious at what he has declared privately as the Solomon Island’s inconsistent approach to foreign assistance given vaccinated crews responding to an earthquake or tsunami were unlikely to have been required to quarantine for two weeks.

Government officials were yesterday seeking to determine the quarantine arrangements for regional police and military officers.

Asked about the decision to impose a quarantine arrangement, Mr Elliott said both he and the police officers were “disappointed”.

“The NSW Government will always extend the hand of friendship when our neighbours are in need, whether that be during civil unrest or natural disaster,” he said.

Locals having their photos taken with an Aussie soldier in a burnt out section of Chinatown. Picture: Gary Ramage

“We are very grateful to have police who are always prepared to deploy at such short notice. My thoughts are with the families of those officers for the unnecessary anxiety caused.

“Naturally, there is a significant amount of disappointment that local rules interfere with this genuine officer of assistance and I’m proud that our police remain prepared to assist if the future need arises.”

Counter-Terrorism Minister Anthony Roberts, who has also served as a peacekeeper, said intelligence agencies were monitoring events closely.

“Intelligence agencies always take an interest in foreign interference,” he said.

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