Law enforcers outnumbered, out-resourced

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

MEMBER for Bulolo and Deputy Opposition leader Sam Basil laid his facts when calling on the Prime Minister and his government to put more resources into enforcement to counter the increasing law and order issues facing the country- saying that it was evident throughout the country that law enforcement officers are under-strength, overworked or under-resourced and cannot maintain order.

"We are anticipating that our security is secure but the Government must step in and ensure the law enforcement agencies are adequately resourced in terms of manpower, equipment, logistics and finance."

He called for more recruits to ensure that a ratio of one policeman to every 500 citizens.

"We must have police vehicles with sirens and flashlights and speakers and radio communication and not hired vehicles that cannot perform or assist the police force."

The deputy opposition leader gave an example of Morobe Province, which he said had almost a million people with only 300 policemen- a number he said was not close to the UN requirement of one officer to 300 people.

He said out of the Correctional Services's manpower of 2400 warders, 60 percent have passed retirement age.

"Therefore, we have prisoners escaping when the CIS is under-strength and cannot ensure sentry duties at day and night."

"This year we had more breakouts from Jails such as Bihute, Beon, Buimo, Bomana and Barawagi."

"Without funding disciplinary forces recruitment, we expect the decreasing manpower to cater for increasing population- we must focus on ensuring people and state agencies must be protected to deliver service," he said.

Basil added that it has become a norm where highway trucks are looted with few policemen watching to control the crowd or even tribal fights are going on as they are outnumbered by weapons used or by number of people involved.

He said that fighting at places like Aiyura or Bulolo should be contained where educational institutions, research stations or administration offices are located as it directly impacts on service delivery as well as loss of time for students in maintaining research schedules.

“The Prime Minister as Police Minister must step up the operations of the police force to maintain order in the first instance rather than apprehending suspects when they watch the event to pass."

"Are we waiting for important state institutions and facilities such as laboratories, classrooms, offices and houses to be destroyed and then let police to investigate and charge or to ensure police force moves in now and protect these assets, other locals and public servants and businesses in these localities.”

He concluded that with a properly resourced disciplined force, the country would be secure for business, investment, service delivery, and also give comfort to all citizens.