Expensive call rates force police to lose ‘famous’ hotline numbers

PORT Moresby police say some of their hotline numbers are not in operation because of expensive rates for calls.
NCD Metropolitan police commander Perou N’Dranou revealed this to people living at the Kipo Settlement in East Boroko yesterday after they asked about the police hotline numbers.
He said the hotline service was to help people report crime.
But the call rates charged by the telephone providers were expensive, forcing the closing down of some numbers.
“We are providing service to the communities and we are not a profit-making organisation,” he said.
“The telephone service companies are getting so much profits from the people (but) cannot turn back to help them.”
He said the “famous” hotline numbers 3244200 and 3255555 at Boroko police station were facing “connectivity” problems.
He said some of the free landline numbers had been stopped.
He urged the people of Kipo settlement to take the matter up with their MPs so that the free phone service can be provided for them.
“We are providing free service for the citizens by allowing them to call our hotline numbers to report any trouble in the community. But service providers Telikom, bmobile and Digicel are seeking so much money.”