The Kokopo City Authority (KCA) Chairman and Member for Kokopo District in East New Britain province, Mr. Ereman Tobaining Junior, has issued a challenge to the police department in East New Britain province to use assets and support given to them to improve the current law and order issues faced in the district and province.
Speaking at a recent law and order press conference in Kokopo, Tobaining Jnr said that since resuming public office in 2022, the KCA has supported the police department with six vehicles and accommodation.
While commending the police department for the festive operation which saw a reduction in lawlessness, Tobaining Jnr bluntly told the Assistant Commissioner of Police for New Guinea Islands the public concerns over the lack of arrest by police in many of the reported cases in the district.
“We spent around K2.7 million in assistance towards the police department. The problem is that no arrests have been made on criminals.”
“We can build infrastructures but when there is lawlessness, then it is a waste of resources when facilities like schools get burnt down.”
Tobaining Jnr also raised concerns on the misuse and abuse of donated assets to the police department, and the actions of some suspected rouge officers working with criminals, tipping them off about movements by the police force, saying this is not helping to address the escalating law and order issues in the province.
The district has been riddled with community fights and armed hold ups over the past few years and the member is concerned on the lack of progress on most of the reported cases.
“We need to put in an Operations order and get those suspects arrested. The KCA has financed past Operations already and thus, need the support of the police department to address the continuous lawlessness in the communities.”
The member further called on the provincial and station commanders to tighten up their belts to provide leadership for their officers.
Meanwhile, Tobaining Jnr said that KCA will also use the KCA Act to put up measures to assist the provincial government in its strategies to address law and order issues in the province.
Likewise, he called on parents and community leaders to take responsibility of youths and juveniles in their wards.
“Law and order is not the responsibility of the government, but it starts from the family home.”
He further stated that the KCA supports the initiatives and decisions by the Provincial Government and has allocated funding for programs targeting youths and communities.
The KCA also has committed to assisting the Kerevat Correctional Services with K200, 000, awaiting the public accounts to be opened this month.