Police Commander of National Capital District (NCD) and Central Province acting ACP Benjamin Turi, is calling on all police officers down the rank and file to assist the acting NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Mazuc Rubiang in ensuring Port Moresby city is clean and safe for everyone.
He said all members must give their undivided support to the new Met. Supt. and expressed appreciation for having so far done a tremendous job under his leadership.
According to Rubiang, fewer crimes were reported during the weekend in and around Port Moresby city. He said this was based on the police reports he had received through police reporting channels.
He commented also on the looks of the city, stating that the city now looks clean especially at the traffic lights, bus stops and public areas where people usually do street vending. Rubiang said that since the awareness program in which the police did convoys and drunk patrols, some people have adhered to the awareness programs.
“Police will continue to do awareness again this week and will start enforcing what they had been doing awareness on. The stricter police bail rates that had been set by the bail authorities of NCD command are active and police will not hesitate to arrest people who do street vending, in possession of offensive weapons, using or holding onto phones when driving, domestic violence and ethnic clashes.”
“The police bail rates are as follows Ethnic clashes is K10, 000 police bail, alcohol-related offence is K5, 000, domestic violence is K2, 000, carrying of offence weapons is K10, 000, street vending is K5, 000 and using a phone while driving is K5, 000 police bail.”
The penalty applies to all including police officers and anyone of the general public. He said so far there have been some improvements in the city, and this is a good sign that people are adhering to what has been said.
He also stated that police are moving around observing locations where street vendors are still doing marketing, and they will come in numbers to arrest those who are selling or are loitering at places that are not designated marketplaces.
“I want to call on the public to help police enforce these laws. It’s not only the police who will police up these places because we are outnumbered. We have fewer police officers in the city who cannot be everywhere in the city at one time.”
“Police officers are working one shift and when one shift rests, the other shift comes on duty. Those who are working in the specialist divisions work only during the weekdays. Those who work during the weekdays can be called in to assist when needed.”
Supt. Rubiang further added that since the city is clean, and people are not congregating in public places, this must continue to be maintained. He said the police will still be out in numbers to whatever instructions that he tells them to do.