City Hall sets up police unit
The National, Monday July 15th, 2013
By BENNY GETENG
A LAW enforcement unit has been set up for the National Capital District.
The NCDC enforcement unit was a joint initiative of City Hall and the police and would see the commission engage reserve policemen and women to enforce laws and regulations on health, liquor, littering, physical planning and buildings.
Speaking at the launching of the unit in Port Moresby last Friday, NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the unit would enforce and monitor laws and regulations already in place to maintain conducive environment for city residents.
“The greatest problem we have in the city is the enforcing of laws and regulations that have been set up to guide the different boards that the commission has already,” Parkop said.
“The enforcement unit now will be able to effectively maintain and enforce these by-laws that will be for the ultimate benefit for the people who are genuinely residing in the city.
“The public must be reminded that the unit was not set up to suppress the vendors, businessman or residents of the city but the unit is here to help them in a proper, legal, fair and justifiable way with their respective conducts within the city.”
Deputy city manager Honk Kiap said: “The first 50 of these reserve officers will be recruited within NCDC and the remaining 100 will be recruited externally of which the first batch having a total of 150 reserve officers.
“They will undergo training at Bomana Police College for six weeks and upon completion of training they will enforce the by-laws in place.”
NCD/Central police commander Jim Andrews said the unit would enhance law and order operations in the nation’s capital.
“The enforcement unit will be able to assist police officers with some of their duties by being placed at public places such as bus tops, markets and shopping centres to help reduce the trend of women and children being harassed and intimidated at those locations,” Andrews said.
“In that manner they will also contribute to help reduce the law and order situation in the city.”