PNG Police Target Modernisation Program

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has important measures and priority areas to target in their 2015 budget.

Deputy Police Commissioner Administration Awan Sete commented this today at the Commissioners’ conference in Port Moresby.

He said the RPNGC will target these key priority areas to achieve their modernisation program. The modernisation program started in 2014 and aims to reinstate public confidence in the police and to give a facelift to the RPNGC.

The three key priority areas of the modernisation program are to change the name of Bomana College to Centre of Excellence; recruit, train and increase manpower from the current 5,000 police officers to 10,000 in 2017; and to improve infrastructure development of the deteriorating police houses, rundown barracks and police stations.

Part of the modernisation program is the Foot Beat System. Under this system, students passing out from Bomana College will be placed in police stations in NCD and Lae for 18 months in order to qualify as constables.

During the 18 months, they will carry out foot beat patrols and, at the same time, be trained and groomed to be fit to become a constable. While training, they undergo a 12-month Competency Acquisition Program.

They have to complete 12 units – one in each month – until they possess the required knowledge and skills. Meanwhile, the infrastructure development program started in NCD, Lae and Mt Hagen, and will carry on to other key provinces based on their infrastructural needs.

PNG Today /EMTV