Oro police lack resources to address law, order issues

POPONDETTA needs more police to address the increasing law and order problems in the provincial capital and throughout the province, a senior official says.
Police commander Supt Michael Welly said the 20 policemen working in Popondetta was not enough.
Supt Welly said the police division in Northern had plans to address law and order issues and improve the situation but could not do so because of a lack of funds, logistical support, accommodation, a police barracks and manpower.
He said the sub-police stations at Oro Bay, Afore, Sangara, Kokoda and Saiho needed to be refurbished.
“Basically, we need infrastructure in the province to address these issues,” he said.
“We are short of accommodation for officers.”
Supt Welly said plans to build a new police barracks and a new provincial police headquarters at Kokoda were not progressing well because of financial constraints.
He said the provincial executive council made a decision in 2018 to build the facilities but it had not been done yet.
Supt Welly said police in the province were also handicapped because of the lack of vehicles; there are only six vehicles serving Northern’s nine local level government areas.
“We need to look at our own resources, that is to train our young energetic men, to be trained as reservist and attached to regular members to beef up police forces in Oro,” he said.
“Increasing law and order problems like violence, alcohol consumption, murder, rape, ethnic clashes amongst others occurring in Higaturu LLG, Tamata, Kokoda, Kira, Oro Bay, Afore, Cape Nelson and town can be reduced if these facilities are put in place.”