Police impose curfew to prevent refugees from committing crime

POLICE on Manus have imposed a night curfew to restrict the movement of refugees who have been arrested for various offences.
Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu told The National that the curfew was from 6pm to 6am.
He said offences committed by the refugees had increased when they went out drinking, driving and assaulting local girls.
“It is their right to move around freely but it has gone out of hand. We have to come up with something to control their movement in town,” Yapu said.
Police discussed the matter with Governor Charlie Benjamin and agreed to impose the curfew.
“When we see some of them hang around in the town (at) 6pm, we alert them to return to their camp site. (They wait for) 6am to go out,” he said. The refugees had been arrested recently for various offences such as drinking and driving, alcohol and marijuana consumption and sexual offences including assault of minors.