Police stations ordered to make 40 arrests a month

By MARJORIE FINKEO
POLICE stations in Port Moresby have been ordered by Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’Dranou to make at least 40 arrests a month.
N’dranou said this was because his daily briefs showed that policemen were not doing enough to apprehend suspects and complete investigations.
He said the number of arrests individual officers made would also impact on their performance-based assessments.
“I will award you through the hard work and individual performance every day, how you go out and perform yourself,” he said.
N’Dranou said how much effort they put into the work they do would also promote a positive image for station commanders.
Last week, he told Waigani Police Station officers that they were not doing enough, as crime increased on their beat.
The weekly crime report indicated that last month, 63 crimes were reported to Waigani station, but only eight suspects were arrested.
Many policemen made excuses of not having fuel in vehicles to perform their duties.
N’Dranou said this was not reason to be not doing foot patrols.
Police Commissioner Gari Baki recently rebutted suggestions by N’Dranou that police officers should be paid bonuses based on the number of arrests they made.
“Police officers have a constitutional duty and responsibility to apprehend, arrest and charge lawbreakers,” Baki said.
“They are already paid, so the payment of bonuses is ethically wrong.”
N’dranou suggested the idea because of increased petty crimes on the streets.