THE police ‘watchdog’ unit, established after the police force signed an agreement with the Ombudsman Commission (OC), is now being implemented.
The Police Complaints Ombudsman, established after the July 1, 2007, memorandum of agreement (MoA), was an oversight unit that would particularly deal with the public’s complaints and other allegations with regard to members of the police force.
The unit was established according to recommendation No. 29 of the 2004 Police Review report.
The OC was identified as the agency to deal with police complaints and investigations because of its independence, impartiality and constitutional mandate.
As the first step in implementing the agreement, several meetings were held since last July between the police and OC, which is now reportedly assisting in a backlog of cases.
Director for police internal affairs directorate Chief Supt John Maru said the oversight function was a new concept introduced to PNG.
“Like all new systems, its success will depend largely on those entrusted with its administration,” Mr Maru said.
“I am pleased that we are moving in the right direction with the implementation of the MoA,” he said, adding that the idea of police oversight was received with mixed feelings when it was introduced to provincial police commanders and station commanders throughout the country.
According to Mr Maru, the police force had not undergone any review since independence and had been operating with practices that had attracted a lot of attention from various groups until the commissioning of the Police Review.
“The chances of success are quite good because we do not anticipate any obstruction to the investigation process. All impediments to the investigations will be duly dealt with as required under the terms of the MoA,” he said.