Police must regain trust of the public
The National, Thursday February 5th, 2015
THE decision by Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki to disband the National Capital District reserve police unit is unfortunate but unavoidable.
There have already been numerous complaints by citizens of NCD about the antics of some members of the reserve police unit over the past years.
The Hanuabada shooting last month has left the police hierarchy no option but to undo the reserve unit and take back police uniforms and arms from it.
Preliminary evidence suggests that the members of the reserve force are responsible for the fatal shootings in the village.
The decision by Commissioner Vaki might be welcome although the NCDC would have to quickly assemble an alternative security arrangement to continue its efforts in maintaining order and cleanliness in the national capital.
City Hall will have to reinforce its city rangers concept but with properly trained and paid men to take on the job of the reserve police unit.
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s reputation has already been battered to such an extent that restoring it will take considerable injection of resources and time plus some drastic measures to lift the general welfare and working conditions of members of the force. This is merely repeating what has become a litany of sorts.
People have made disparaging comments against the police force and some policemen have actually been attacked because of the loss of confidence in police work in the country.
The unruly behaviour of reservists, coupled with a decline in discipline and use of brute force in the regular force against civilians is adding insult to injury. The decision had to be made to disband the reserve unit.
According to Jim Andrews, the Deputy Commissioner Operations, the NCDC would have to explore other options on how to enforce by-laws governing the city without the direct involvement of police.
All vehicles, uniforms and firearms issued to the city’s reserve unit will now be returned to the constabulary. Andrews said the decision to disband the reserve unit by the commissioner was to ensure proper care and management of the constabulary’s resources, particularly the use of firearms.
In addition, Vaki ordered the Bank South Pacific reserve unit to be disbanded because police uniforms and firearms were being used to perform security work for a commercial bank.
We suggest that the same directive be extended to other institutions or commercial entities who hire men in police uniforms to act as security guards on their premises or as escorts.
The uniform is the identity of the RPNGC and must remain so and not be used by any other person and purpose.
The NCD reserve police unit has produced the desired results in ensuring order in the city. However, certain members of the unit have stepped out of their line of duty and out of control.
The killings in the first month of 2015 have only heightened the sense of fear in the hearts of many law-abiding citizens and disrepute for the constabulary.
The public would want quick answers as to why it became necessary to kill citizens in Lae and Port Moresby who has posed no real threat to the lives of police officers attending to two cases.
Investigations by police themselves would eventually bring out the truth; however, the process is going to be agonisingly slow for families of the innocent who have died at the hands of police who, from initial evidence, had unnecessarily resorted to the use of lethal force.
The decision by the police commissioner could be a way to start re-organising the force with the view to regain and rebuild public trust. The top management of the police force obviously has a lot of work to do.
The police commissioner might want to consider restricting the use of firearms only to men and women in command because already there had been disastrous consequences of arming all members of the force.
We commend the decision to take back arms from the reserve unit.
It is a start but the biggest challenge now is to regain public trust in the entire police force.