Call to increase police training programmes

INCREASED training programmes should be introduced for police recruits to inprove the quality of police work, says shadow Attorney-General and Opposition spokesperson on the disciplined forces, Kerenga Kua.
Kua was making reference to a video of police assaulting a youth in Kimbe, West New Britain.
“This is a red-handed example of what many of our citizens have endured from the very authority that should be protecting the rights and safety of our people.
“Thanks to social media, Papua New Guineans have been able to see the many instances where police conduct has been in serious question.
“Admittedly, there have been instances where these perpetrators who disgrace the majority of law abiding officers have faced disciplinary action but for the most part our people are still very nervous and fearful about reporting misconduct by police personnel.
“The role of the police is to bring suspects to custody and allow the law to deal with suspects. It is not police work to use fear and scare tactics to control and humiliate our communities.
“I have been informed that the person that exposed this brutality by uploading it on social media was made by some people to remove the footage and instead post an apology for any offence caused and commending the great work of the police in the community. For me, this situation reeks of foul play. Our people should not be fearing the police in this way.”
In a statement, Kua said the government was making a mockery of people’s rights under the Constitution by neglecting to address the increased level of violence and police brutality around the country.