Public should support police

THIS should be a concern for all – in Port Moresby, there are only 700 police officers to look after over 600,000 people.
That is a ratio of one officer to more than 800 people which should be worrying as it places a strain on their efforts to securing a safer community.
The United Nations recommended police-population ratio is 1:450.
Police-to-population ratios for other jurisdictions are: Fiji 1:550, Solomon Islands 1:500, Queensland 1:475, Australian Northern Territory 1:280.
PNG’s ratio of police-to-population has been well over these figures since 1981, and the present ratio of 1:800 for NCD represents a considerable challenge.
This ratio almost guarantees poor police service to the community, as police resources (even if maximally employed) are likely to be overwhelmed even in a relatively peaceful country.
Given the present law and order situation in the country and its seriously detrimental effect on personal and public safety and on business confidence and the broader economy, police numbers, no matter how well trained, positioned and motivated, are clearly grossly insufficient.
Wikipedia says Papua New Guinea does not have a tradition of strong local police authorities.
The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has a funded strength of 5250 officers, commanded by the commissioner of police. Two deputy commissioners report to the commissioner.
The RPNGC faces obstacles in trying to gain the cooperation of PNG communities, which frequently prefer to deal with criminals by themselves.
Consequently, police are spread fairly thinly, with correspondingly slow response times.
NCD police boss Perou N’Dranou has admitted that law and order has been increasing at an alarming rate, especially sexual offences.
With the current ratio, police definitely cannot be everywhere in the city, so he is calling on the community and police to work together to fight crime.
A report of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Administrative Review Committee by the Institute of National Affairs to the then minister for Internal Security Bire Kimisopa in 2004 highlighted the shortage of police numbers and resources that was affecting the police’s ability to do their job.
The report emphasised the need for police to recognise that good policing requires cooperation with the public, so that the community and police solve problems of crime together.
This is community policing and must become the whole reason for and the main method of doing police business.
The NCD police boss has introduced that now and is going out in force to see it become successful.
The programme has been positive so far and police must now see that they need community assistance.
The police need to restore discipline and be more accountable for their actions and for the resources provided to them.
Honest police officers are overwhelmed by the lack of resources, poor leadership, bad management, apathy, and the condoning of the corrupt behaviour of their colleagues and superiors
Without the Government’s commitment, nothing will change.
Law and order will deteriorate to chaos, and the future will become hopeless.
The starting point for these changes is a government commitment to provide the resources for the police to do their job, and for the reform process to take place.
The community wants an effective police force. At the same time, the community needs to accept the fact that they have a part to play in policing.
They cannot expect the police to be effective if the public does not help. Effective policing is a partnership.