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May the force be
with you
By SHEILA LASIBORI
Law enforcement in a fast expanding city like Port Moresby is no
easy task.
Petty criminals prey on helpless victims and serious crimes occur
frequently as law enforcement agencies crippled by lack of
adequate resources try desperately to maintain law and order.
The Police Force, has over the years seemed to have drifted away,
operating in isolation from the people.
But efforts are now being made to change this trend to improve
public safety and bring the law and order situation under control.
These efforts includes the general cleanliness of the city whose
image is badly stained by betel nut spittle and graffiti.
No nonsense Chief of Police Operations Geoffrey Vaki, described as
"a tough cop" has been tasked with the job to re-instill
discipline and harmony in the force.
He is determined to see a turn around in the way the public
observes law and order issues and police's response to law
enforcement.
The National Executive Council (NEC) appointed Mr Vaki on April
11, he took office on April 30 with a vow to perform his expected
duties and sort out "in-house matters" within the police
headquarters at Konedobu.
The soon to be implemented policing concept will see more police
presence in public, officers will be on foot beat maintaining
contact with the public daily on a 24-hour basis.
The concept is one of the 61 recommendations of the Police Review
Report of 2000.
Foot beats and increased police presence were among the
recommendations to re-establish community-police relations and
regain the trust of society.
And Mr Vaki is determined to see this done starting in NCD where
there are many preventable illegal activities being committed in
public places.
These crimes include theft of personal items such as mobile
telephones, bag snatching, harassment of women, school students
and the elderly and the sale of betelnut and cigarette at
non-designated areas.
Last Saturday Mr Vaki led a team of senior police officers and
their subordinates on a "Walk the Talk" tour to areas within the
city known for petty crimes.
They visited the Boroko 'buai' market, the Tabari bus stop at
Boroko, Gordon market, Waigani market, Gerehu market, downtown (POM)
main bus stop, Sabama market and the Malaoro market.
"We are very concerned about your public safety that is why I am
going to direct more police officers to be on the streets," Mr
Vaki told members of the public during the awareness drive on
Saturday.
Several members of the public expressed appreciation that senior
officers had been able to talk to them instead of the junior
officers who they claimed, sometimes harassed the vendors and
destroyed their goods.
Mr Vaki appealed to young men and youths to refrain from illegal
activities like pick pocketing, harassing and raping of women and
girls.
Inspectors Julius Tasion (junior) and Gideon Ikumu told a crowd at
Sabama market that maintaining law and order was a two way thing.
Mr Tasion said the cop shop at Sabama had been destroyed and the
people themselves had allegedly hid law offenders and criminals.
"Yupla wok lo wokim wok blo mipela hat" (You are making our
(police) job difficult) Mr Tasion appealed to the public to work
with the police so families can live in peaceful and safe
communities.
Mr Vaki also hopes that the public perception of some policemen
who have acted outside their constitutional duties and Police
Standing Orders can be corrected with this effort.
The exercise will be extended to Lae, Mt Hagen, Rabaul and other
centres.
Mr Vaki also urged his senior officers, to ensure the performance
and personal appearance of their subordinates are of high
standards.
Mr Vaki was especially concerned about police officers who chew
betelnut while on duty. This he said was degrading of a police
officers' appearance.
The new policing concept cannot be achieved by the police alone,
it needs the support from relevant stakeholders including the
National Capital District Commission (NCDC), Health Department,
the Building Board, and Eda Ranu.
Mr Vaki told the public that the Police Force was no place for
officers who were not willing to be on the foot beat and those who
only drove around in vehicles waiting for a crime report to reach
the Boroko operations centre before they acted.
He said the force should take a pro-active approach to their
duties.
NCD/Central police commander Alfred Reu and his Metropolitan
Superintendent Mark Kanawi will be in charge of this new policing
concept in NCD.
Senior officers on the "Walk the Talk" tour team included; ACP
Crimes Raphael Huafolo, senior community policing Officer Daniel
Linonge, Sector Patrol Commander Inspector Sengi Laki, Operations
Director Simon Mapu, Victor Isouve, Central provincial police
commander Chief Inspector Peter Taiang, and second-in-charge of
CID Lincoln Gerari.
 
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