The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary recently heard from Assistant Commissioner for Police-Prosecutions, Pare Kuriap, regarding the challenges faced by the prosecution division.
ACP Kuriap emphasized the need for enhanced training for prosecutors, advocating for higher education standards to match those of the lawyers currently defending cases.
He says he has initiated discussions again with the Law faculty at the University of Papua New Guinea to upgrade the qualifications of police prosecutors through a Diploma in Law Program.
This move aims to improve prosecution outcomes and enable officers to advance into legal careers.
The inquiry, chaired by Justice Elenias Batari, also addressed the issue of inadequate pay for police prosecutors, who currently receive a 12% allowance on their base salary.
ACP Kuriap called for an increase, citing the demanding nature of their role, which confines them to courtrooms without the travel allowances offered to other police units.
Additionally, Kuriap highlighted the drop in discipline within the police force, pointing to a 75% decline since he joined 39 years ago.
He attributed this to the lack of training, structured parades, and the enforcement of disciplinary measures, particularly in areas where non-commissioned officers are unable to enforce discipline due to Section 19 of the Police Act.
Kuriap advocated for reforms that empower lower-ranking officers to maintain order, especially in remote areas where higher-ranking officers may not be present.