The effort to improve and lift the standards of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) will depend not only funding support, but on the efforts of every political leader in parliament. RPNGC has a major short fall in manpower That’s the word from the new Minister for Internal Security Peter Tsiamalili Junior, when responding to questions from the Member for Talasea Freddie Kumai in parliament today on the law-and-order issues in West New Britain. The minister said the RPNGC has a major short fall in manpower where on average it is a ratio of one police officer to 1, 145 citizens, which he said compared to the United Nations (UN) average policing requirement one officer to 450 citizens, is indeed a big gap that needs to be filled. “Under our corporate plan for police, we will need resources to make sure police is fully equipped, fully funded, and have appropriate policing resources. That will need almost K3.9billion to bring the police force up to standards and at the same time increase manpower,” said the minister. He added that the issue of law and order is experienced by every member of parliament and as such, internal security will need a collaborative effort to maintain. “Time and time again, although we say police is the number one institution that needs to be looked at carefully to help us, it still needs resources to do so.” On that note, the minister said at present support is needed in terms of funding for the investigation into the election related violence during the 2022 National General Election. “We need almost K60million now to have a joint operation to address this lawlessness that occurred during the election, so we start to take action and prosecute those responsible.” The minister concluded by saying that one way to address law and order issues is for political leaders to create more employment for their people, especially the youths most of whom are just wondering around and are mostly the cause of these law and order issues in the community. He said by creating more employment at the provincial and district level, it is one-way leaders can work together to address fully the law and order problems faced in the country.