The Ombudsman’s role is to make sure that the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) acts fairly towards Solomon Islands people, to make sure that government decisions are proper and just, and to help make Government administration better.

The Ombudsman carries out this role through its primary function to investigate cases of suspected maladministration by public bodies including Government Ministries, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), the Correctional Service (CSSI), the Honiara City Council (HCC), provincial governments, and such other offices, commissions, corporate bodies or public agencies as may be prescribed by Parliament.

Public officers and contractors of public bodies can also be investigated by the Ombudsman.

The Investigations Unit is responsible for carrying out these investigations and for producing reports of such investigations in coordination with the Ombudsman and with other Units of the Ombudsman’s Office in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for investigations.

The Ombudsman may begin an investigation into any administrative conduct of a public officer or body or contractor or agent to that body on the following basis:

  1. In response to a complaint (Complaint Based Investigation) or; 
  2. In response to a referral from a Member of Parliament (MP) or;
  3. On his or her own initiative on the basis of information received from another source (Own Initiative Investigation)