International border issues worry police, says Baki

National

POLICE commissioner Gari Baki says police are short of manpower and resources to combat increasing crimes along the international border in Vanimo, Western and sea borders with the Solomon Islands.
“It is a very challenging issue now that our borders along Indonesia and PNG have the largest landmass and sea borders with the Solomon Islands are also large – that is not easy, ”Baki said.
He said only when resources in the Police Department were available could they do something about it.
It was not only the department’s responsibility but the entire government’s, he said.
The police commissioner said only a few men with limited resources were watching borders.
“I want the provincial government to take some responsibilities to ensure the borders issues were in place,” Baki said.
According to the border divisional command presentation during the police commissioners’ conference in Port Moresby yesterday, the large landmass and population in Vanimo, Western and East Sepik were the main concern regarding manpower.
The police:people ratio was lobsided, Baki said.
Acting commissioner of police border Chief Supt Samson Kua said policing of the border was very hard simply because its size.
He recently said that illegal activities along international borders like Vanimo, Tabubil, Torres Strait and other borders were becoming a concern.