Police Commissioner David Manning said that 3,000 vests, helmets and body armour donated by the Australian Government would help the security forces deliver a free, fair and safe 2022 national general election. Mr Manning made this remark at the signing of the gifting agreement between the Australian Government and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to supply body armour, vests and helmets. The signing was held at the Police Operations Centre (POC) in Konedobu in the National Capital District. Mr Manning said the vests and helmets would ensure the security forces are able to maintain their operations effectively throughout the election period. He said the appropriate vests or protection gears added an increased level of confidence to the members of the security forces. “I always say the security personnel’s role is to ensure that they conduct elections in a safe, free and fair manner. I have reminded our citizens that elections are about expressing the individuals’ rights to vote but there is an expectation of what we (security forces) do to conduct peaceful elections,” Mr Manning said. Mr Manning said the vests and helmets will be issued to the security personnel as soon as they arrive in the country. The Australian High Commissioner to PNG His Excellency Jon Philps said Australia knows how important it is for the conduct of elections in PNG and the vests and helmets would help the security forces deliver a peaceful election.