| Daniel Lim |
DISCUSSIONS with the local authorities participating at the symposium organised by the Royal Military Police (RMP) of the British Military Garrison Brunei will help lay the foundation for cooperation during any incident, said RMP Detachment Commander WO2 Donna Longhurst.
The RMP Symposium was successfully held with representatives from local authorities and agencies in the surrounding areas of Kuala Belait and Seria as part of an initiative to provide a platform for the RMP to disseminate information regarding their roles and capabilities in the country with local authorities and vice versa.
The symposium was held at the surrounding premises of the Medicina Lines at Seria yesterday. It was organised to provide an understanding to local authorities and agencies the position of the RMP within the British Army, as well as their roles and responsibilities as a legal policing body while in Brunei Darussalam.
The symposium was attended by over 40 representatives from various departments under the Royal Brunei Police Force from Kuala Belait and Seria, as well as personnel from the religious department, health department, and Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP).
“Today’s symposium was about showcasing who we (the Royal Military Police) are, what our roles in Brunei are, what capabilities we have, and what we can potentially share with regards to the best practices with local departments in Kuala Belait and Seria,” said WO2 Donna Longhurst.
She added that the sharing of best practices between the RMP and local authorities was also intended to work both ways, as it encourages participation from attending representatives in sharing their own stories and experiences to provide a better understanding of various situations normally encountered by the RMP and local authorities in the country.
“We don’t solely come up with the best ideas. By having the symposium and continuously working with local authority figures, we can work more smoothly together in the future,” she said.
As the first symposium of such calibre held by the RMP in Brunei, she said the symposium will not only help build and strengthen the relationships between the RMP and the local authorities, but also disseminate knowledge to form an understanding and to learn various capabilities of RMP and local authorities operating in the area.
She hoped that this engagement between the RMP and local authorities will continue to help ensure a solid relationship and communication is properly maintained.
Attendees listened to a briefing on topics that included the introduction of the RMP and its capabilities, the laws and regulations adhered by the RMP in addition to the local governing laws and regulations.
The attendees also interacted with the RMP members along with their equipment.
Attendees learnt about the RMP during the symposium by asking questions of the capabilities and equipment used by the RMP.
They also shared their stories and experiences with regards to situations or incidents encountered along with the best practices used to resolve them.