PNG Police Chief Warns Public Against Prank Calls to National Call Centre

Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner David Manning has warned citizens not to make prank calls to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s National Call Centre, saying such behaviour could delay responses to real emergencies.

Speaking during the launch of the new call centre in Port Moresby, Mr Manning said misuse of the service would not be tolerated and those responsible could face legal consequences.

 PNG Police Chief Warns Public Against Prank Calls to National Call Centre

He explained that prank calls tie up operators and waste valuable time that could otherwise be used to assist people in distress across the country.

“There are offences under the Communications Act that allow us to take corrective action against people who continuously make prank calls. When you clog up the line or take up operators’ time with nuisance calls, those seconds and minutes can be vital for responding to genuine emergencies,” Mr Manning said.

During an early test run of the system, officials noticed prank calls already appearing on the monitoring dashboard, a development the commissioner described as worrying.

He said the call centre was established to provide immediate support to citizens in need and should not be treated as a source of entertainment.

Mr Manning appealed to the public to use the service responsibly, warning that prank calls could stop children, elderly people and other vulnerable citizens from getting help when they need it most.