Manning wants lawyers to do better, raise revenue for police

POLICE Commissioner David Manning has commended the police legal directorate for raising revenue for the department.
Comm Manning said it was a rare case for police and an eye-opener for the department’s lawyers to do better to utilise every opportunity to make money for the constabulary and the State.
The commissioner said this on Friday at the Police Headquarters in Port Moresby when receiving a cheque for K40,222.11 from police lawyer Chief Insp David Kiwai.
This was from a case filed against the police which Kiwai defended in Oct 2016.
“This is in line with the Government’s intention to take back PNG,” Manning said.
“Prime Minister James Marape made it very clear that all the line agencies must generate revenue within their departments and the cheque presentation today is a testament of what the Police Department can do to fund some of its own operations.”
He said the successful defence should discourage individuals from taking up claims without merit against the department.
“The Police Department is only known as an expenditure department but the payment has shown that it also has the potential to generate revenue,” he said.
“Going forward, I have instructed police lawyers to vigorously ask the court to order and award costs in favour of the department.
“My management will also be exploring the possibility of paying police lawyers a percentage of all revenue brought in as a result of a successful defence.
“This will serve as an incentive.”