The Marape-Rosso government is ramping up security measures with new initiatives, including a special unit named “Kumul 23” and an expansion of the police reservist program.
With the backing of Prime Minister James Marape and Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, these efforts were recently discussed in a high-level meeting of coalition leaders, coordinated by Chief Secretary Ivan Pomaleu.
Kumul 23, a specially trained police unit of 100 officers, is intended to address unrest and security threats nationwide.
This unit will have the authority to operate across land, sea, and air, with its members undergoing specialized training under anti-terrorism protocols.
The unit is expected to be operational by early next year, supported by a newly established barracks.
Police Minister, Peter Tsiamalili said this unit could be deployed quickly once the anti-terrorism bill, currently under review, is passed.
Another major move is the planned expansion of community policing through a larger pool of police reservists.
This effort is aimed at fostering a future recruitment base and encouraging community-led policing efforts.
The government is also collaborating with local churches to help identify candidates who demonstrate strong ethics and behaviour, ensuring that the force remains committed to community service.
In a step toward enhancing policing leadership, Australia is assisting PNG under the PNG-Australia Bilateral Security Agreement.
Commonwealth officers from Australia will assume senior policing roles, initially piloted in Enga Province, with experienced officers heading departments in Prosecutions, Internal Affairs, Investigations, Traffic, and Fraud.
This initiative, backed by Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas, is set to strengthen leadership in Enga and neighbouring provinces, which often face significant law and order challenges.
Minister Tsiamalili shared that the coalition government is dedicated to long-term improvements within the police force and broader security sector.
Discussions among the coalition leaders will continue throughout the month, with a view to finalizing these plans before the close of 2024.