200 Women Police Officers to be part of U20WWC security operations

Close to 200 women police officers will be participating in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup security operations.

A three-day workshop commenced on Monday at the Laguna Hotel where 51 police women who have been assigned as Team Security Liaison Officers (TSLOs) to the 16 participating teams.
LOC Security manager, Hetahu Lohia said the workshop is to familiarise the women with their roles and responsibilities during the tournament. They will be working closely with the Team Liaison Officers because they will with the teams throughout the tournament.
Similar to the Tri-Nations tournament, each team will be allocated two to three TSLOs and a TLO who will be attached with the teams for the duration of the tournament.
Police Commissioner, Gari Baki in opening the workshop congratulated the officers who were selected to be TSLOs and said the principal security for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup lies entirely on the RPNG women.

He said besides the TSLOs, 130 women police officers from the other centres will be flown into Port Moresby to commence security operations at the end of the month. Four female officers have also been appointed to be venue commanders and will be stationed at the match venues.
“I had given an undertaking that I want our policewomen to be at the forefront and that is why we’ll be deploying a big number of policemen for this tournament,” he said.
Commissioner Baki encouraged the female officers to be ambassadors for both PNG and RPNGC because it is the first time that PNG is hosting an international football event and it will mean that the RPNGC will be under the spotlight because it is the lead agency is providing security for the teams that are coming.

“The challenge will be an eye opener for every one of us because it is the first occasion that will put us under the spotlight and also prepare us for future international events.
“The challenge is there, what you do now will have a reflection on how we prepare ourselves for APEC as well, because we will use the experience that you have gained through the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to assist us in planning for APEC,” he said.
The security operations order has had input from the National Intelligence Office and other security partners to ensure the safety and security of the fans, international media and teams that will be in Port Moresby during the three-week tournament.

The first phase of the three phase operations commences at the end of the month.