Police pay has been corrected in Department of Finance systems, with no unwarranted deductions to occur in pay two of 2024. The Acting Police Commissioner has engaged with the Department of Finance to ensure that police pay is returned to normal from pay two of 2024, and reimbursements are made to all police personnel in pay three of 2024. Acting Police Commissioner, Donald Yamasombi in a statement said that the mistake was made by the overall government finance system and should never have occurred, so it is being rectified by RPNGC management. However, technical limitations in the Finance Department pay system mean that the reimbursement cannot take place until pay three. Yamasombi made the point that under the Marape-Rosso Government, police salaries are high than before and even outstanding allowances from a decade ago have now been paid. “Firstly, I can confirm that the deductions made in error last week, that average K63 per police member depending on individual circumstances, will be paid in pay three,” Mr Yamasombi said. “This mistake should not have happened, but when we put it into perspective this Government does the right thing by police through increasing pay and benefits, and even back-paying millions of Kina to personnel that they were owed.” “Making sure police are properly paid is a priority for the Commissioner, and this included last year paying outstanding allowances from previous years.” “K60 million was allocated to pay outstanding allowances that police were denied from 2010 to 2015.” “This money paid the outstanding allowances for 4, 277 police officers, from Constable to Sergeant that had been denied to them more than a decade ago.” “Depending on the number of dependents police officers had at that time, this was a payment averaging K6, 000 and as high as K8, 000 for each policeman and policewoman.” “Our rank and file can rest assured that the Police Executive will always back them up and they will not be cut short under our leadership and this government.” Meanwhile he added that police are amongst the highest paid public servants in the government, and this is well deserved considering the risks and dangers police face on a daily basis. “Police have high demand and risky jobs, and the men and women who wear our uniform must and are being paid properly, and it is the executive’s view, under Commissioner Manning, that this will continue for their service.” “The salary structure for RPNGCX personnel is generous and is deserved by our rank and file with the Government being proactive to ensure pay rates are reviewed each year.”