THE Simbu provincial police commander appears quite concerned.
And so he should be, because by his own admission, “homebrew and marijuana are sold right in town opposite the police station”.
He has also reportedly urged the market sellers “not to sell illegal goods as this would force authorities to close the market which in turn would affect law-abiding vendors”.
Taking a gentle approach to problems in the community is generally commendable but the softly, softly attitude of the Simbu police seems ill-advised in the light of the problems detailed.
Drugs and sly grog are the two biggest sources of assault, rape, domestic violence, road deaths and injuries and a host of mental illnesses.
It borders on the unbelievable that a provincial police commander should warn these criminal vendors to amend their behaviour.
To us, the police force that he heads should be arresting and charging those who dare to openly break the laws that he is under oath to defend.
To say that he has “vowed to put a stop to it by engaging police personnel on foot in the market area” seems like attacking a towering inferno with a watering can.
And it appears that the PPC is fully aware of the problems these illicit sales can cause, for he reportedly added “homebrew and marijuana-addicted people also cause disturbances along the Okuk Highway”.
We certainly support his announced intention of sending police to villages and arresting those involved in the production of both homebrew and marijuana.
The National has long advocated attacking the drug and homebrew problems at source, that is by identifying the growers and processors and prosecuting them to the limit of the law.
The PPC says that such action “is the only way to minimise the problem and discourage people from producing or cultivating illegal drugs”.
We fully agree, but we question the significant delay in dealing with these matters.
Why has this only now become a matter for the police to deal with, when the problems have been endemic throughout parts of the Highlands region for decades?
The police commander has further appealed to the public to provide information that would identify people producing illegal drugs and homebrew, or cultivating marijuana, so that the police could then move in and arrest them.
That’s a big ask of the public, especially in a rural setting where a traitor in the camp, as it were, might well meet an unfortunate and premature end.
The help of the public is desirable, but the leg work, the identifying of these hidden criminals and the arrest and charging of them is and always should be in the hands of the police force.
There is a new-look apparent among the younger police officers, especially those who are well educated and have a grasp of the realities that make PNG and its people tick.
We certainly support such officers and men but we urge them to tread a middle path.
We, in common with much of the PNG media, have protested loud and long at police brutality.
We do not want to see it continue and the less combative and arrogant approach now advocated as part of RPNG Constabulary training seems appropriate for our country’s needs.
But when there is a clear-cut case of law breaking, when it takes place presumably on a daily basis and when the activity is conducted straight across the road from the existing police station ... well, we cannot but help wonder when swift, solid and pre-emptive action will be taken.
Markets are a social phenomenon and not simply a place where food is sold.
Markets are the focal point of many communities, the place where information is exchanged, gossip bandied about and the state of the nation dissected by those taking part in the ritual.
If the marketing of illegal drugs and intoxicants is allowed to continue at such outlets, particularly in close proximity to the police station, then the people cannot be blamed for believing that such sales are legal and acceptable.
We are not advocating a violent confrontation with these law breakers.
But law breakers they are, with the potential to wreak great harm in our communities.
Strong and timely action seems called for.