Police should be protected: Top cop

People gathering at Lahara Park at the Boroko area in Port Moresby last Saturday. They ignored the health safety measures of wearing face masks in public and practising social distancing. – Nationalpic by JOEL HAMARI

POLICE, like other frontline workers in Eastern Highlands, should be fully equipped with personal protection equipment (PPE) as they work to help contain the Coronavirus (Covid-19) surge in the province, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) northern command Peter Guinness says.
“With the current situation, police personnel in Eastern Highlands will be the main people to enforce the current lockdown experienced; (but) are they fully equipped with PPEs to do their job?” he said.

**Moresby South resident Martha Jack receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine last Friday at the Koki Fish Market. – Nationalpic by LULU MARK**

ACP Guinness said a policemen had died recently from the Covid-19 and this highlighted the risks police personnel faced in the province.
He said he had spoken with the Eastern Highlands police commander and they would put a submission to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary headquarters requesting PPEs for police operations in Eastern Highlands.

**Students from St Therese Catholic Primary School in Port Moresby washing their hands – one of the “New Normal” protocols in the school. – Nationalpic by LORRAINE JIMAL**

ACP Guinness said a circular had gone out to all provincial police commanders in the northern command, including the Lae metropolitan command, that face masks were mandatory for all police personnel.
“No prisoners will be sent into police cells without masks or being sanitised,” he said. “They must all wear masks when they are to be kept in the cells.

**Eastern Highlands police personnel manning a checkpoint between Asaro and Goroka town. – Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER**

“That also applies to the public accessing police services at police stations; all should be wearing masks.”
ACP Guinness said by now, people were expected to be aware of the Covid-19 protocols and to adhere to them.

**Lt Paul Steven, commander of PNG Defence Force unit from Wewak, East Sepik, currently deployed into Porgera, Enga, getting his Covid-19 jab at the Porgera health centre on Monday. – Picture supplied**

Asked if Morobe would go into lockdown, he said they were not at that point yet, but the provincial Covid-19 committee needed to enforce Covid-19 protocols and encourage more people to get vaccinated.