Police revive reservist programme

POLICE Commissioner David Manning has endorsed the Eastern Highlands police reservist programme to address the Coronavirus (Covid-19) surge and policing challenges in the province.
Manning said the reservist programme had been a great asset to the constabulary, but had been withdrawn due to a lack of proper command and control.
The programme will now be continued after the signing of an agreement with Governor Peter Numu in Port Moresby last Thursday.
“With the current Covid-19 crisis, coupled with the ongoing law and order situation across the country, we have agreed to revive the police reservist programme in partnership with provincial governments and other statutory bodies under the revised policies and command structure,” Manning, who is also the National Pandemic Response Controller, said.
He thanked Numu for his commitment and partnership.
“This is a win-win approach for the constabulary and the province in addressing the current Covid-19 crisis and law and order issues in to the future,” he said.
Manning said other provinces were currently running similar programmes.
He said the constabulary had set a target to recruit 1,100 police reservist personnel before next year’s national general election.
Numu thanked Manning to revive the programme in addressing the lack of police manpower in the provinces.
He said 220 successful applicants would start the training.
“Under my administration, we are ready to run this programme and the first batch of 220 successful applicants will go into training immediately,” Numu said.
“We need more police manpower to assist us with the Covid-19 operations and general policing thus we have taken such drastic action.”
“This is the biggest reservist recruitment compared to other provinces and my administration will continue to sustain this programme,” Numu said.