Enga government throws weight behind police

BY mid-next year, Enga police would have 100 new recruits thanks to an initiative by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas and the Police Department in which the province assists the police in recruiting and training young men and women.
Ipatas gave a cheque for K300,000 to the Police Commissioner Gari Baki in Port Moresby yesterday as an instalment from a K1 million pledge that the Engan government had made to support the programme.
“The Enga government is privileged and grateful to be partners with the police department in this important programme,” Ipatas said, adding that Enga had considered its law and order problem and was doing something about it.
He said above all else, more police personnel were needed in the province to manage the law and order situation there.
“Unlike other problems, tribal fights in Enga can only be contained and managed with more police manpower and that is why we are taking this initiative,” the governor said.
Baki thanked Enga and said it was the national government’s plan increase police numbers to 7,000 by 2013 and Enga’s commitment was in line with this vision.
This is the third time that a province has taken the initiative to partner with the department to train and recruit police personnel.
Bougainville and Southern Highlands governments have partnered with the police under similar programs, Baki said.
He also said 140 recruits from Southern Highlands would be graduating on Oct 22.
Baki said the department’s human resource team would be sent to Enga in a few weeks time to start the recruitment process.
He also said recruitment, selection and training would be done by the department.