Committee concerned about violent crimes

THE Milne Bay community policing committee is concerned about the escalating violent crimes in the province and is asking for a provincial police commander (PPC) to take charge of policing there.
Committee member and deputy governor Tom Cameron said yesterday that they also wanted a police boat to combat piracy.
“We met with the acting southern police commander Chief Supt John Maru at Konedobu, in Port Moresby, and enquired about a permanent PPC to take command of the police officers back in the province,” he said.
“The last permanent PPC, was Chief Supt Joseph Morehari (retired) in 2016.
“Since then, we have been having acting PPCs. And that has led to an increased trend of violent crimes that we have never experienced.”
Cameron said they also wanted a water police boat as piracy was common.
“Milne Bay is a maritime province and most of our people travel by dinghies and boats between their villages and Alotau town to do business and obtain services,” he said.
“There is no police boat to patrol the sea lanes. Also, we met with the community police director Chief Supt Kabib Lamu to review the community policing programme in the Kiriwina LLG.