PNG Police Cadet Recruitment Suspended Over Regional Representation Concerns

Papua New Guinea’s Officer Cadet recruitment has been temporarily halted by Police Commissioner David Manning to examine concerns over the representation of applicants from different provinces in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).

 PNG Police Cadet Recruitment Suspended Over Regional Representation Concerns/Photo supplied

The pause, introduced before interviews begin, will allow police authorities to investigate why some regions have recorded fewer applicants and determine whether obstacles are preventing eligible Papua New Guineans from participating in the selection process.

Manning said the review would look into issues involving educational qualifications, medical requirements and difficulties faced by applicants in obtaining supporting documents.

He said the national police force must reflect the country’s diversity and maintain public confidence through a transparent and impartial recruitment process.

“This is our nation's police force. It must serve all Papua New Guineans and reflect the people of every province. Public confidence begins with a recruitment process that is fair and can stand up to scrutiny,” Manning said.

A total of 3,304 applications were received for the current Officer Cadet intake, with 1,485 candidates shortlisted for preliminary interviews with recruitment officers.

The Commissioner said authorities would identify where applicants were failing to meet requirements and establish the reasons behind those shortcomings without compromising the standards expected of future police leaders.

He said the Constabulary’s electronic recruitment systems provided transparency and allowed applications to be reviewed for accountability.

“Let me be clear: recruitment standards will not be lowered. Building a force that reflects every province and maintaining high standards are responsibilities we must uphold together. Every applicant is assessed fairly against the required standards,” Manning said.

Once the review is completed, interviews will resume, followed by physical assessments and further evaluations to determine candidates’ suitability for officer training.

The temporary suspension is expected to last several weeks.

Manning pointed to the demanding nature of cadet training, noting that more than 3,000 people applied in 2023, but only 63 entered the three-year programme. Of those, 54 were commissioned as Inspectors in October this year.

“We expect the best from the future leaders of our Police Force. Our responsibility is to build a capable, disciplined national police force that all Papua New Guineans can trust and see themselves reflected in,” he said.

A public notice will be issued after the review, outlining its findings and advising applicants of the next steps.