The organizations of the Royal Papua New Guinean Constabulary and the Correctional Services are very much institutes of the state and there are a very specific mandate as to what roles they play in the society.
According to the RPNGC Commissioner, Mr. David Manning, it basically aligns with what the Police force and the CS to reform both organizations.
Commissioner Manning said that the amalgamation of both forces by the government is to see how they can best support their reforms.
“It’s not anything but an alignment of our Government’s intent to carry out key reforms in both organizations and it also allows us to have a more focused and controlled leadership at a political level,” he said.
He also said that with the merger, he will soon be taking on added responsibilities, not outside of the police force but within the force to bring about key reforms and advised that he and his executives have had serious discussions on how they can implement those reforms.
“Now we are more focused on ensuring that we run the force as effectively and efficiently as we can and those reforms are not just purely administrative policies but also involves reviewing how we conduct business and how effective are we in delivering the policing service for the communities and the country,” said the Police Commissioner.
He added that the merger does not have a direct bearing on him terms of having additionally responsibilities as the police commissioner, but it does require him to lead the organization in the reforms that they have been put on hold for quite some time not only in his term but in those of his predecessors.
“For all the constabulary, in order for us to align ourselves better with government policies and of course taking into consideration our corporate plans and development plans for the police force and no doubt the correctional services, we stand to benefit immensely from the amalgamation of the two ministries into one,” Mr. Manning said.
He further stated that of course they both operate at different ends of the law and justice spectrum.
The police force is responsible for preventing, protecting and the apprehension of criminal offenders, the correctional services are more about the rehabilitation and reintegration of these offenders back into society and for them to become a better and more productive citizen that contributes to society and back to the country.
He stated that both organizations have cross cutting issues and in order for them to be dealt with effectively, both forces need to undergo reforms and those reforms will make sure that both organizations will be as transparent and accountable when they are undergone, making them provide their services effectively to the people.