Officers told to serve Constitution, not Govt

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By MALINDA KALE
POLICE officers must serve the Constitution and not the Government, says Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
He told the 28 cadet officers including six females to be commissioned during a parade at Bomana, Port Moresby last Friday that the Government did not create the positions of police officers.
“The position is created in the Constitution and it is the constitution you should serve,” he said.
He said the Government wanted to improve discipline and command in the constabulary “by depoliticising (it) so that officers can do their job provided under the constitution”.
“I have observed many commissioners and senior officers talking about serving the Government. A police officer is to serve the constitution (which) serves the 8.5 million people of Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“It is the constitution that you will serve.”
He planned to stop political interference into the functions of the constabulary.
“During our term in Government, that practice will change.”
Kramer pointed out that most people were more afraid of the police than criminals.