Province plans to boost policing

EAST Sepik will expand its auxiliary police force to complement law enforcement in the province, Governor Allan Bird says.
Bird, in a post on social media, stated that he had discussed with the provincial police commander Supt Albert Beli to expand the auxiliary force to 100 men and women, increasing manpower by 50 per cent.
He said there were 200 active police officers in the province serving a population of 500,000.
He said the number of police personnel was simply inadequate which was why there was a need for more man power hence the East Sepik government would assist in funding the auxiliary force by paying a small fortnightly allowance for their service.
“It will cost us K600,000 a year and this will be discussed in our next budget review meeting next month,” Bird said.
“This will be an additional K400,000 on what we budgeted for this year. My government is committed to funding police support.”
Bird said auxiliary police would complement the police and allow them to expand their law and order services to cater for most if not all needs arising in the province.
He said a secure province would encourage investment and economic progress in the region in terms of the implementation of state and donor programmes as well as private enterprise.
Beli welcomed the commitment by Bird and his government saying auxiliary police would help greatly in allowing his command to maintain a safe and peaceful province.