Rise in crime due to isolation: Police

THE remoteness of the Tewai-Siassi district in Morobe is contributing to an escalation of crime rates recently, says Morobe police commander Supt Alex N’Drasel.
Coupled with that is the absence of police officers on the ground partly because of no accommodation provided for them in the district.
N’Drasel made the comments when announcing the departure of police officers for Siassi Island and Wasu. The two groups of five officers each will join the police mobile squad – three to the rural patrol unit and two as police investigators.
“The group for Wasu will have a 21-day operation to prepare for Prime Minister James Marape’s visit to the district next month,” N’Drasal said.
The Wasu team will also be investigating the murder cases in Kabwum (sorcery-related) and in Wasu where a Grade Nine student of Wasu Secondary was killed this month.
“The Siassi group will investigate and arrest suspects of arson, carnal knowledge and rape, grievous bodily harms. They will remain on the island for two weeks.”
N’Drasal said Tewai-Siassi was so isolated and the crime rate was high.
“People at the moment do not see law enforcement officers there. It is contributing to crime being committed now and then.”
Transport and other logistical issues had been the major hindrance to addressing law and order issues.
Meanwhile Wasu Ward 13 councillor Toli Figao said people in his village had their homes and properties damaged after the killing of the student on Oct 12.
“The situation there is very tense at the moment and we need immediate police presence,” Figao said.
He claimed that his Neng-Upulutung village was not involved in the killing of the student 42 homes were damaged.