National Capital District (NCD) and Central Province residents are urged to follow official procedures when requesting police assistance for evictions.
Chief Superintendent Benjamin Turi, Commander of NCD and Central Provinces, issued a firm reminder, stating that any eviction exercise within the city must be approved and authorized by police bosses, not junior officers.
Turi emphasized that no evictions in these regions should proceed without direct approval from his office.
“I am their boss, and I will instruct them to go if I see that the documents provided are legal,” he said.
Turi explained that the public must engage with the proper channels, starting with the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent or the Central Provincial Police Commander, who are the only authorities authorized to assign police units to assist in evictions.
This announcement comes as a response to complaints that unauthorized evictions are being carried out with police involvement, resulting in community unrest and, at times, violence.
Highlighting the proper process, Commander Turi outlined four key steps for property or landowners seeking police support for evictions:
1.Submit Valid Legal Documentation: Property or landowners must first provide all required legal documents, such as court orders, land or property titles, and ejection orders, confirming that they are the legitimate owners.
2.Document Verification by Legal Officers: Once submitted, Turi’s office will conduct a thorough review of the legal documents to confirm authenticity and accuracy.
3.Official Instructions from Commander’s Office: If verified, the Commander’s office will issue an instruction for police engagement, directed to either the Metropolitan Superintendent for NCD or the Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Central.
4.Assignment of Police Units: Based on the Commander’s directive, the Met-Supt or PPC will assign specific police units to provide security during the eviction.
Emphasizing the sensitivity of eviction cases, Turi warned that unsanctioned police involvement in evictions could cause severe dissatisfaction among affected residents, with examples already reported.
A recent incident in Morobe Block, at 9-Mile in NCD, illustrates these concerns: police officers, alongside individuals claiming to be landowners, conducted an unauthorized eviction, which ended in a police-involved shooting.
Turi confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the police officers involved will be held accountable, facing arrests and charges.
Turi also appealed to the general public, urging them to confirm police authorization during evictions.
“If you become a victim of eviction, please make sure you confirm that the police officers who are there have documents with signatures and stamps from my office,” he advised.
This is essential to ensure that police presence at eviction sites is legitimate and that officers have the proper authorization.
Furthermore, Turi issued a stern warning to residents and landowners who bypass his office, warning them against personally selecting police officers to assist in evictions.
“If you are handpicking police officers anywhere to assist with your eviction without my authorization, you must be prepared to look after them when they are dismissed from the force,” Turi stated.