The Operation Directorate
The Operations Directorate consists of a skeletal workforce of Director, Deputy Director
and two staff officers designated as S.O.I and S.O.II respectively coming directly
under this directorate are the Reserved Unit Companies, the Special Operations Section,
the Police Royal Guards, the Airport Police contingent and the OPSO. This
directorate is mandated to oversee the police day-to-day function and co-ordination
of all police operations. Technically it has responsibility even down to districts
level when
major incidents occurs therein.
In its role this directorate inevitable has to work
in close co-operation with other enforcement agencies when dealing with major disasters
or criminalities.
During the past year frequent joint patrol with Forest Department to attempt to stem
those illegal logging activities along certain areas of the national border with
neighbouring country.
Joint operations, albeit of a lesser degree, were also conducted with Immigration
Department and Royal Customs and Excise.
The Narcotic Control Bureau is another enforcement agency which counts on this directorate's
support.
Refugees
Our significant incident occurring in 1996, saw officers from this directorate, at
risk to their personal injury or life, boarded a ship within Brunei territorial waters.
The ship was carrying desperate Chinese refugees. Those officers through their diplomacy
averted a crisis. The refugees were subsequently given humanitarian aid and assisted
out into international waters.
Aircrash Exercise
In mid 1997 the Department of Civil Aviation conducted a major incident - an
aircrash.
The RBPF through this directorate was a major constituent in the exercise, indeed
the Director of Operations was the Police Operational Commander and was positioned
at the Emergency Operations Centre where the State's decision for such incidents
are made. The Deputy Director Operations was the Crash Scene Officer.
This exercise involved several other governments / agencies namely, Royal Brunei
Armed Forces, Medical, Fire Services, and Royal Brunei Airlines. Most importantly,
this was witnessed by international observers who represented countries such as Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Brunei, China, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Korea, Kuwait,
Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Langka, Thailand, United
States and Vietnam.
Exercises of this nature is important to ensure that the State's air crash action
plan is continually rehearsed and refined. In this instance, this opportunity was
given greater emphasis where observers feedback contributed to closer scrutiny of
our Action Plan.
Extension of Assistance
Other significant area of importance is this directorate's direct involvement in
extending jungle training to the Singapore Police Gurkha contingent. This co-operation
has been going on for a number of years with the recent training code named BRUSING
6.
Haze
With the latest development of the haze problem hitting countries in this region,
with Brunei Darussalam being no exception, the directorate coordinates police participants
in fire fighting operations alongside the Fire Services Department as well as other
assisting bodies.
It is anticipated, that even with the subsequent inception of a National Civil Defence
the Operations Directorate will continue to be the key player in any national disaster.
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