Police Service of the South Sea Islands
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| Nation: |  South Sea Islands
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| Patron: | His Royal Majesty King Nicholas I | |||
| Headquarters: | Maximilian Barracks, Joseph Town | |||
| Area of operation: | South Sea Islands | |||
| Abbreviation: | PSSSI | |||
The Police Service of the South Sea Islands (Madison Eilân Batavian: Korps Zuidzee-eilanden Politie) is the national police force of the South Sea Islands. Founded in 1706, the national police service was created as an amalgamation of three regional police forces that existed in the Commonwealth prior to this date.
Mission
The Police Service of the South Sea Islands (PSSSI) exists to enforce the law and ensure public safety on the territory of the Commonwealth, including the territorial waters of the nation. In common with many police services, the PSSSI's mission statement is To serve and protect. The service undertakes a significant amount of community engagement activities to maintain the reputation of the service as being part of the community, and something that's approachable and there for the public good, rather than something to be feared.
History
Prior to the foundation of the PSSSI in 1706, each parliamentary constituency of the South Sea Islands maintained its own police force. While this system had the advantage of being extremely localized, and therefore being extremely familiar to the communities served, the different forces adapted wildly different practices and interpretations of certain laws.
These discrepancies in enforcement led to difficulties for the judiciary, with the lenient treatment in one jurisdiction being cited as a precedent when charges were brought in another for the same offense.
While there was initially some resistance to the consolidation of the police force, both among officers and the public, the benefits of pooled resources quickly became apparent.
Manpower
The small population and strong civil society of the Commonwealth has always meant that crime levels remain low, with only minor offenses being reported. For this reason, the entire manpower of the PSSSI (including office and support staff) is around 60.
In addition to regular patrol offices, a number of specialized units. These include a small firearms response team, helicopter divisions for rapid transport across tough terrain, and marine units for patrolling territorial waters.
