Promoting police visibility

 THE Australian Federal Police officers are promoting police visibility in the country by conducting foot patrols, mission commander Allan Scott.

AFP officers are serving in Port Moresby and Lae to provide frontline advisory support to the local constabulary.

“In Port Moresby, we have 49 AFP officers working alongside RPNGC officers in all nine stations in the National Capital District,” Scott said.

The Boroko police station is the primary location for the AFP officers. They accompany local officers on foot and road patrols, visits to markets and other public locations.

“Our emphasis is based on high visibility in police uniforms and most times, we will be seen doing foot patrols in uniform, just to increase visibility,” Scott said.

He said his officers had not undertaken any other policing functions such as arresting or charging persons.

“The AFP officers are working in partnership with the RPNGC to improve law enforcement capabilities in certain key areas,” Scott said.

Public safety, station management and supervision, community liaison and engagement, traffic operations, criminal investigations and sexual offences are the key areas which they are trying to improve in the country, he said.

“We are not here to tell RPNGC to do things like we use to do in Australia.

“Most of our people here have experiences in community policing and have worked overseas.

“We work with RPNGC in advisory role, we suggest something, look at what is going on.

“It is all about developing a skill in the PNG police in a PNG way.”