Concerns over rise in law, order issues in Madang

National

A RECENT increase in law and order problems in Madang has caused concern among the public.
Businesswoman Rose Murka, who visited Madang for business, said she was shocked to witness petty crimes such as bag snatching done in a town and community she expected to be peaceful.
Murka said her friend’s bag was snatched by a boy and when she came to her friend’s defence, they were threatened with a knife before the youth ran off with the bag containing important documents.
She said some bystanders chased the boy, who was part of a group, and managed to return the bag but demanded payment before handing the bag over.
A number of town residents interviewed said they had noticed an increase in pick pocketing, armed robberies in shops.
Ward eight councillor Samson Gaan said youths were taking advantage of the absence of police, who were had been deployed to the Mangem care centre and Bunabun tribal fights.
Gaan added that Madang town was in need of more police personnel however there were no houses to accommodate them and called for the government to seriously look into increasing police presence in the province.
Madang provincial police commander chief inspector Ben Neneo could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, the Jomba police station renovation has taken longer than expected with the need for police services growing by the day.