Marape, Welly agree to boost police manpower

By MALUM NALU
TARI-Pori MP James Marape and Hela police commander Michael Welly have agreed to use reserves and community police officers to boost the manpower level.
They met in Tari last nigh night to discuss the law-and-order situation in the province. The situation was brought about by the killings of two Hela policemen in Southern Highlands.
Southern Highlands policemen, who make up the bulk of the constabulary in Hela, left en masse.
Welly told The National in Tari that there were only 60 policemen to look after more than 300,000 people and the PNG LNG project site.
Welly said Marape’s push for reserve and community police was “welcoming”.
“The concept is very good and I support it,” he said.
Welly said the festive season was a cause for concern for police in Hela.
“We have a low manpower problem, but despite that, we have very dedicated policemen,” Welly said.
“We will work hard to ensure that there is a peaceful Christmas in Tari and the rest of the province as well. We will do what we can.”