Hela needs officers: PPC

 THE lack of manpower and accommodation are some barriers to improving law and order and policing in Hela, provincial police commander Michael Welly says. 

Welly said killings in the province occurred daily, with most cases unreported because of the non-existence of policemen in many areas.

While he did not disclose statistics of killings over the last month, he said the lack of police manpower was why law and order was still strife.

Welly, who held discussions with Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations Jim Andrews this week, said accommodation for policemen remained a big problem.

“Policemen sharing houses, that’s the true state of accommodation issue in Tari at the moment,” he said.

“We have two to three policemen sharing houses simply because there is no house. Without all these men, policing will not be effective there. I cannot do my job. 

“The problem I’m facing is in places like Komo, Magarima, even Koroba having less than 10 men to man these districts and that’s too much for them.”

He said sending his men into remote areas to attend to issues required ample logistical support and funding.