Lae raises the bar in battle to cut crime in the city

By JIMMY KALEBE
LAE district law and order chairman Sam Oyaya says a two-week awareness programme will be carried out from today in efforts to reduce crime in the city.
The awareness programme will be conducted by the Lae District Law and Order Committee, Morobe government, police and other like-minded organisations in an effort to clean up Lae city and make it safe.
Oyaya said the programme would target locations in the Top Town area, main bus stops, Eriku and Main Market area.
“This awareness will look at putting an end to street vending, sleeping out in streets and shop fronts at night, selling of betel nuts in public places and bus stops, drinking alcohol in public places, getting rid of shoe makers in the town area and putting an end to K5 boss crew,” he said.
Oyaya said the authorities would make a decision on the opening hours of nightclubs.
“A circular will be circulated to them informing them on conditions of operation which they should abide by or have their licences forfeited,” he said.
Security officers will be placed at main bus stops, Top Town, Eriku and Main Market on a 24-hour basis to monitor the situation for the next three months.
He said 100 men have been identified from Ahi villages who will be trained as police reservists and placed permanently at those locations to enforce the law.
“We did these for the good of all the people and for a better, safer Lae for us all,” Oyaya said.