Youths assist police

MORE than 100 youths are helping police in Madang to curb crime during the Christmas and New Year operations.
Youth Link’s Bryan Kramer said the youths from the southern and northern parts of the province would be providing security and monitoring main bus stop areas in the township.
He said the recent uprising in Lae had youths coming in numbers, contributing to the rise in criminal activities, especially petty crime.
“We will be providing white
T-shirts, reflector vests and identification cards for these volunteers so the public can better identify them,” he said.
Kramer said the volunteers would only provide information on the ground to police.
“We will only act as a deterrent for criminals not to harass, pick pocket and snatch bags from families and villagers travelling into town to do their shopping,” he said.
He said this was Youth Link’s first roll-out programme until New Year’s Eve.
Their conduct will be closely monitored by police at designated bus stop areas.
Provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jnr said the engagement of youths was basically to help police as the force faced a manpower shortage.
He said such an initiative came as a great help as reserve and auxiliary policing had yet to be approved by headquarters. 
“We need to protect our families and the town. It will help police in other areas such as keeping crime hotspots safe and patrolling the North and South coast highways,” he said.
He said the force was ready to
take on board any help or new initiative from groups or business houses.