Private Column by Frank Short, CBE
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Frank Short is a British born Australian citizen.
He served as the Commissioner of Police in the Solomon Islands from 1997 to 1999.
As a young national service officer he was a member of the Corps of Royal Military Police in Hong Kong from 1959 to 1962 when he commanded an Anti-Vice Section, receiving commendations from the Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong and the Commissioner of the Royal Hong Kong Police.
His later civil police career was spent in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Swaziland, Hong Kong, New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), St Helena and Ascension Island and Bophuthatswana.
He was twice awarded 'Batons of Honour' during his early police career, the first when serving in the Northern Rhodesia Police (NRP) and the second as a member of the Royal Hong Kong Police (RHKP).
His appointments have included Head of the Training Wing of the Swaziland Police College,Public Prosecutor in Swaziland, Officer Commanding the Northern Police Division of the New Hebrides Constabulary, Santo, Chief of Police on the Island of St Helena, Registrar of the Supreme Court, St Helena, and Detective Inspector in the Special Branch of the Royal Hong Kong Police.
In Bophuthatswana, as a contracted British Adviser, he lectured on human rights and successfully commanded a Civil Claims department and a Complaints Against the Police office.
In 1995 he was appointed Senior Legal Administrative Officer to the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Safety and Security in the provincial government of the North West Province of South Africa.
In his role as Senior Legal Administrative Officer he continued his work as a human rights adviser and lecturer, working in close cooperation with staff from the Raoul Wallenburg University in Sweden and the University of Essex in the UK. He was also involved in the pre-planning work for the establishment of a South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In 1998 he was invited by the United States Army to address a Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) in Manila, Philippines, on the role of "Leadership." This was the first occasion a police commissioner had been invited to address a gathering of senior international military officers from some 40 countries.
Since retiring as Commissioner of Police in July 1999, he has maintained a close relationship with the Solomon Islands and been a strong advocate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
He believes passionately in restorative justice and reconciliation for all the people of the Solomon Islands.
In recent years he has done voluntary teaching work in Thailand, including aiding socially disadvantaged young people.
He was appointed CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours, 1999.
Friday, 22 February 2013 12:00 AM
Policing a Clash of Cultures Part 20: Seeking External Help. Where to go?
BY FRANK SHORT, CBE
Excerpt from my memoirs.
After a month in office, I was generally satisfied that some progress had been made, but after many years of being neglected by successive governments and local leaders, the police service was run down, demoralized, understaffed and in urgent need of help, financially, materially and professionally.
Given the dire straights of the government it was obvious that help could only come from outside and in reality, from the Island’s traditional development partners, which were Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Japan, America and the Republic of China (ROC).
I started testing the water by approaching several diplomatic missions and was soon very surprised to learn that the ROC government was about to supply the force with several vehicles and motor cycles, as well as a bus, for operational deployment ahead of the forthcoming general election.
A welcome surprise indeed!
Although no commitments were made, the Australian, British and New Zealand High Commissioners were generally supportive of my requests for help for the force. The USA promised to give training assistance and the Japanese offered material help for the Fire Brigade.
I knew, at the time, that Australia was supporting the Vanuatu Police Force, especially by way of mentoring and training by seconded AFP officers, but I was a little apprehensive about directing my requests to the Australians, knowing what reaction there had been in the Solomon’s government to the leaked secret report in which Pacific leaders, including Solomon Mamaloni, had come in for criticism.
One was also conscious of the unexpected negative reception I had already received from certain members of the AFP – John Murray in particular I knew he had made it clear that he considered me totally unsuitable for the post of Commissioner, based on both incorrect information and I suspected a personal disappointment.
To be continued ……
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