Reintroduce criminology course

The National reported, on Nov 9, a K3.5 million contract was signed between Meddent PNG and the National Forensic Science Services to purchase new scientific testing equipment in pursuit to modernising the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary through its criminal investigation directorate.
In addition, the Government through the Department of National Planning and Monitoring under its 2020 National Development Budget appropriation provided funds for the construction of a new biological and a biochemical testing laboratory valued at K2 million.
This is a phenomenal development for the police in which would help in solving crimes and would also substantiate or give value to the Sorcery Act in terms of processing and verifying evidences.
I urge the Government, through the national planning department under its law and national security wing, the Department of Higher Education Research Science and Technology (DHERST) with the University of PNG, to work together in restore or reintroduce the Criminology programme that was offered at UPNG during the 1980s.
The reintroduction of the programme will support the developments and the modernisation of the criminal investigation directorate in combating crime effectively.
The National also reported (Nov 9) Correctional Services Minister Chris Nangoi saying that the National Executive Council in the last parliament sitting in August recognised the joint forces college (JFC) in Lae, Igam Barracks, as a university for the joint forces (police, army, corrections and other state agencies) complementing PNG’s national security as stated in the Vision 2050’s fourth pillar on security and international relations.
In doing so, the minister pointed out that a technical group would be established to work with DHERST and with universities to put together suitable programmes to be taught at the college.
I urge the technical group to take into consideration embedding the criminology programme into JFC or reintroduce it back into UPNG as a programme under the school of humanities and social sciences or school of law.
Criminology is the study of crime from a social perspective, including examining who commits crime, why they commit them, their impact and how to prevent them.
This is the core study that is greatly needed by police, correctional service officers and other law and justice state agencies.
Currently, the University of PNG offers criminology and penology as a compulsory course under its bachelor of law programme for third year and fourth year law school students.
Given the high crime rate and the on-going lawless problems in this nation, I believe the criminology programme should be reintroduced into UPNG under the school of law or under the school of humanities and social sciences.
By doing so, police (detectives), correctional service officers and other law enforcing state agency workers will take up this course to understand why people commit crime and effectively address crime in this country.
In order to address the law and order situation, the Government through its law and justice sector, agencies and institutions should understand why people commit crime.
As a critical observer, over the years the Government through its law enforcing agencies having been trying to address the law and order issues on a prevention perspective but have inadequately failed to understand why people commit crimes.
Understanding why people commit crimes, should be the focal point of attention by law enforcing agencies.
That would enable the law enforcing state agencies to decisively address crime.
In light of the new developments and the pursuit of modernizing the RPNGC, it is evident that the RPNGC will need biologists, chemists, biochemists, pathologists and laboratory technicians’ therefore it needs criminologist serving as police officers and other law enforcing state agencies in order.
Crime is pulling this country backwards.
Crime constitutes corruption vice versa corruption constitutes crime.
The RPNGC needs criminologist in police uniforms to combat crime effectively in this country.

Critical Observer
Michael Trawanga, Jr