Police recruitment targets Gr12s

By ROSELYN ELLISON
GRADE 12 school dropouts will be recruited and trained as police reservists and peace officers in East New Britain.
Governor Michael Marum said the recruitment exercise would involve 168 candidates, beginning this year.
A total of K1.2 million had been allocated for the programme, covering the training costs and allowances for the officers.
The exercise had received the approval of the provincial assembly and government.
He said it would involve both the East New Britain administration, Royal PNG Constabulary, and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
Upon completion and graduation, the recruits would be assigned to each of the province’s 23 local level governments, with each receiving eight officers.
Marum said the shortage of police personnel was hindering on effective and efficient policing in wards and communities. The province’s initiative was aligned with the 2020 National Village Courts Policy and Strategy, and the National Executive Council Policy Decision number 320/2020 on Crime Prevention.
He said the peace officers and police reservists would be the link between the wards and communities, police stations and the courts.
Responding to the initiative, Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat said the conduct and behaviour of many police personnel had degraded over time. “If we want to push this idea, let us carefully examine those applicants so that they do not end up like some of our police officers nowadays,” Marat said.