Law and order in city intact, police say

 THE public in Western Highlands is being urged not to criticise the work of police but report any sightings of crime to them.

Provincial police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari made the call last Friday after refuting a report in this paper last Thursday that police are doing little to contain the rising criminal activity in Mt Hagen city.

Lakari said the crime rate in the province was decreasing and police were continually making foot patrols.

He said Mark Maip, a local from Holy Trinity, was “smart” to criticise police in the province without realising what they were doing.

Lakari said people like Maip should come up with his facts and figures and tell the people instead of making a lot of noises in the media.

“Police in Western Highlands are performing their duties and I’m happy with what my officers are doing here,” he said.

“My office is not receiving any reports of crimes in Mt Hagen city and I guarantee it is safe.”

Lakari said police was working along with the community leaders and youths.

“The operations here are the same as in overseas countries like Australia. Law and order is stable, business is booming and I commend police officers and the general public for their cooperation.”

Lakari said if people came across problems then they had to go to his office so that he could deal with it directly.

“I urge people like Mark Maip not to go to the media and express their personal views because this will not do anything good about the image of the city,” he said.