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By VERONICA MANUK
KOKOPO, widely-known as a peaceful town in East New Britain, is fast
catching up with crime statistics in Port Moresby.
In fact, the law enforcement agencies in the province and provincial
government senior officials were dismayed over their crime situation.
Many disagreed, believing it was only a simple matter of viewing the
situation.
Kokopo’s reportedly rising crime incidences based on a crime survey in
the area were revealed by PNG Justice Advisory Group representative Iva
Kola in the Law and Justice Sector’s workshop in Kokopo yesterday.
The workshop was attended by Police Commissioner Gari Baki, Correctional
Services commissioner Richard Sikani, Public Solicitor Frazer Pitpit,
Chief Ombudsman Ila Geno, the senior members of the provincial
government and stakeholders’ representatives.
The survey covered 16 sites around Kokopo, namely Kenabot, along
Tobaining road, Raniola plantation, Palnakau plantation and Takubar and
involved 357 people in 123 households.
The survey indicated that:
lOn the magnitude of crime problem in PNG (large scale) – Kokopo rated
82%, Buka 87% and Port Moresby 81%.
*Level of corruption in PNG – Kokopo rated
86%, Buka 81% and Port Moresby 88%.
*Level of local crime – Kokopo 69%; Buka 68%
and Port Moresby 73%.
*Alcohol and drug-related crimes – Kokopo 36%;
Buka 48% and Port Moresby 44 %.
*Stealing – Kokopo 36%; Buka 8% and Port
Moresby 24%
*Domestic violence – Kokopo 5%; Buka 3% and
Port Moresby nil.
*Crime victimisation levels were higher in
Kokopo than Buka and Port Moresby.
However, law enforcement agencies like police, CS, Kokopo town
authorities, Kokopo administration and the provincial government
representatives disagreed with the survey report.
Mr Baki urged the agencies to accept the report and take it as a
challenge.
He assumed that what had been stated in the survey was not reported to
police.
“It’s important that every agency must be held accountable for that and
be responsible to address the law and order situation in Kokopo,” Mr
Baki said.
 
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