In 2022 alone saw a lot of issues arising from the notorious settlements in Erima in Port Moresby city; however, this year the Police Station Commander (PSC) for the Gordons Police station has plans to seriously deal with this matter going forward.
Last year the area saw a lot of ethnic clashes and crimes committed.
People were injured and even killed during numerous confrontations between ethnic groups that live in the settlements.
PSC Inspector Gabriel Kini said this must change in the new year.
Inspector Kini said this year he plans to carry out more awareness to the people and implement the concept of community policing in the hot spot areas in the settlements.
“I am planning on carrying out awareness in the communities, especially the one at Erima and the one behind the Funeral Home. “
We got a mixed batch of people living in these communities and its very, very hard to contain the issues that arise there,” said the PSC.
He said police will be proactive by reaching out to identify the targeted areas and then reach out the community leaders to work with them.
“We start to identify the community leaders out there, liaise with them to bridge us police to the community, so we can give some responsibilities to them so at least they take ownership, and they do their own policing in their respective communities and areas.”
He explained that by doing this, it will be more convenient for police to assist the communities to promote a safe and secure place to live in.
Meanwhile, PSC Kini said the settlement areas were quiet right throughout the festive period with no major cases reported and he thanked the people along with their community leaders for their efforts to maintain peace and harmony during Christmas and New Year.