Officer concerned with discipline in barrack

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, February 16, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

A CONCERNED officer from the country’s elite police unit, the Special Services Division (SSD) has raised concerns regarding the lack of discipline in the division’s McGregor barrack.

The officer who did not wish to be named, said the lack of discipline of children of officers have created fear and anxiety amongst families of policemen who are away on operations.

He called on the hierarchy to seriously address the problem as children were openly consuming homebrew and marijuana in the barracks.   

“McGregor Barracks has a big problem now with discipline and the barracks is getting out of control from bad to worse,” he said.

“Children of some policemen, especially their sons, consume marijuana and homebrew within the barracks.”

“Nobody is controlling them and families are living in fear, especially when we go out for operations it is not safe for our families.”

He said that there where instances where youths were drunk and ask other officers families for money- even threatening and verbally abusing them when they don’t give them money.

“We cannot go directly to another officer’s house and complain but have to go through the proper channels which have not worked so far,” he added.

“Stealing has been going on within the barracks also at the homes of other officers.”

He stressed that it was the youths that could cause disharmony amongst officers in the barracks.

When asked by the Sunday Chronicle regarding the issue, Director for SSD Superintendent Samson Kua, attributed it to normal teenage rebellious behaviour and a lack of discipline on the part of their parents.

He also pointed out that the barrack had been without an OIC (Officer in Charge) for some time as another contributing factor to the breakdown in social order.

“The barracks has been without an OIC (Officer in Charge) for some time, and now that has settled with a new appointment.

“We must also understand that these are teenagers who are going through a rebellious phase, however any child of an officer caught doing such activities raised will be dealt with along with the parent (officer).”