K6 million needed for B’ville policing

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
SIX million kina is needed to implement a restructure plan for the Bougainville police service over two years.
Assistant Police Commissioner to Bougainville Thomas Eluh said the restructure project would focus on the expansion and strengthening of police operations, transport, communication and infrastructure.
The project would also involve the separation of the organisation into two main divisions – operations and corporate services.
Eluh said the restructure proposal, which had the support of the governments of Autonomous Bougainville and PNG, had been identified as a high impact project prioritised for implementation as soon as funding was made available.
“Most of this money will be required to rebuild police facilities destroyed or damaged during the Bougainville conflict,” Eluh said.
On the challenges of policing in Bougainville, the regional commanders of North, Central and South Bougainville have called for training opportunities for the
500 BPS officers.
North Bougainville regional commander chief Insp Cletus Tsien said police officers needed more training on management, investigations, community policing and conducting awareness.
South regional commander CIP Paul Kamuai said more help was needed from local partners for a better community policing of the region.
“Policing the international border with the Solomon Islands is a challenge and we need a well-trained, well-equipped police service.”