Hela Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop is confident that Hela will change for the better following the capture and arrest of four criminals wanted for a string of serious crimes committed in the province. PPC Tondop said that the suspects were arrested between the moths of March and April by the Joint Security Forces in Hides and Tari with the assistance of communities within Hela. Mr. Tondop said the assistance police is getting from the people shows that the people want law and order to prevail within the province. He stressed that law and order is everyone’s business and not just police. Upon taking command of the province, PPC Tondop initiated major awareness campaigns to win the trust, support, and cooperation of the people. The PPC said among the four arrested was the most wanted criminal (name withheld) believed to be from Pureni village, South Koroba. He was apprehended at the Tari market on Friday March 31 by police with the assistance of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) personnel, acting from a tip off. PPC Tondop said the suspect was wanted for escaping from lawful custody, armed robbery, willful murder and rape. He was re-arrested and charged again for escaping from lawful custody in 2019 from the Baisu Correctional Services facility in the Western Highlands province. He is now remanded in custody at Baisu and will appear in the District Court in May. PPC Tondop said the other three (names withheld) were arrested and charged on Saturday April 1st at Paivali, Tari Pori check- point with the help of PNGDF personnel acting on a tip off again. He said the suspects were from Tugupe village, Wai Linipini village, Hayapuga Local Level Government in Tari Pori district and Kupari village in Tari Urban. The suspects were wanted for willful murders. Tondop said one suspect was taken to the Baisu Prison in the Western Highlands Province and the other three were taken to Buiyabi Prison in the Southern Highlands Province after they received reports of a possible “rescue” attempt by their criminal associates. “The security forces will continue to enforce the law without fear, favor, ill-will, or malice.” “This is the right thing to do if Hela is to change. We will come down hard and enforce the law on criminals who think they are above the law.” “The law-abiding citizens have shown their support for the work of the security forces in the province and together we will change Hela.” “I am very proud of the performance and achievements of the security personnel where they have arrested and charged over 200 suspects from minor street offences to serious crimes in the last four months compared to zero arrest over 10 years.” “Criminal behavior is abnormal in any society, so we cannot allow criminals to continue to rule Hela through the barrel of a gun.” The PPC said this was a major achievement in the key result area of law enforcement in the province. The security forces would build on this to effect full restoration of government authority and rule of law in the province. He said while the wheels of justice may be slow, they have now started turning in Hela. Mr. Tondop urged all citizens to rise up, unite, go home, and educate their families and clan members and support the work of security forces in the province. He asked the public to provide the names and locations of criminals with high powered weapons in the communities to ensure that they and their weapons are removed from the various communities in Hela. He added that a number of developments are taking place within the Hela Provincial Police Command to improve policing services such as: · The establishment of a toll-free number for the public to call should they wish to report a crime or seek police assistance; and · The establishment of a Crime Information Management System linked to a crime database. Support has come from its partners, especially the Hela Provincial Government. Preliminary work on this has started with the design phase is in progress. The PPC added that the future of the children of Hela is in the hands of educated citizens and leaders at all levels. He said children must grow up and get their education in a peaceful, safe, and secure environment. He further added that no amount of input from any foreigner will change Hela but the love, time, commitment and cooperation of the Hela elites themselves will bring lasting peace, change and development to the province.