Can PNG Police Win Back The Public's Respect?
, RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist
A police commander in Papua New Guinea's National Capital District is concerned that the public no longer respects the police.
Assistant Commissioner Benjamin Turi points to nine cases of resisting and assaulting police officers that appeared before the Boroko District Court this past week alone.
The Post-Courier reported him saying that when he joined the police force, such disrespect was unheard of: "Respect was given and it showed in the way the public responded when a police officer issued a command."
He said now that the person in a blue uniform is not safe is a sad day for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and for the country.
In PNG, assaulting a police officer is a serious offence under the Summary Offences Act 1977 and carries a hefty fine.
Our correspondent in PNG Scott Waide has been looking at police deaths dating back to 2017.
(This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.)
SCOTT WAIDE: I compiled a few figures about three months ago, just trying to understand how bad it was, and I counted at least 24 police officers who had been killed in the line of duty, and these are people who have either been shot, stabbed or just killed in various different ways, plane crashes and all that, but just attacks on police officers.
A lot of those attacks have been in the Highlands. There are others as well, in Alotau, West New Britain, East New Britain, attacked in the line of duty whilst performing an arrest or just driving through locations that are dangerous.
So yes, it is a big problem. Families of police officers have come out and stated, off the record of course, that their husbands, their wives, are not adequately protected while they're out in the field.
A lot of police officers, policemen that I've spoken to, have expressed that a lot of times, when they go into trouble spots, they are ill equipped, like they don't have the body armour or the helmets that are needed. So there is a big problem.
DON WISEMAN: I guess one of the big problems as well, the numbers [of police] not big enough are they?
SW: One of the big concerns is that the officers who are being deployed are just overworked, and they're stressed. For example, Governor Alan Bird was talking about a mobile squad unit from Wewak that has been on permanent deployment in the Highlands for months and months. That means they're away from their families for several months, you know, upwards of half a year, and there's really no rest and recreation for them to regenerate and go back on duty. The numbers are too small to deal with a country like Papua New Guinea.
DW: Now an assistant commissioner in the National Capital District, has pointed out that in the past week there have been nine cases of resisting and assaulting police just in the Boroko District Court alone. Benjamin Turi is saying in the past, well, when he began as a policeman, such incidents were very, very rare, and he wonders why people seem to have lost their respect for police.
SW: There are several contributing factors, and one of them has been police attitudes towards the public, and police brutality towards the public. That has also been a contributing factor, and the general loss of trust over time, that's also another major contributing factor.
The public has in many places, lost respect for police. There are also good commanders out there who have tried to restore order, restore the respect for police.
The situation in Lae, especially where I live, is vastly different from other places, where you have a lot of respect for police, and it took a long time to get there. Took at least a decade to get there.
DW: What happened in Lae to get there?
SW: Well, firstly, there was a reorganisation of the Police Public Relations, going out and talking to communities, getting community involvement. There's a law and order committee set up for Lae and there's an active Whatsapp group that they use where police officers are available, and the numbers of policemen who have committed offences and [whose actions] have been reported have been acted on by their commanders.
It's restored that trust in in the public. So that needs to happen, in my opinion, that needs to happen in every other town and city as well. But it's a slow, slow process. I mean, if Lae took 10 years, then it will take just about the same time in other places as well.
DW: Well, a critical issue, of course, for Papua New Guinea is election time, and it's been a pretty bad time for police. Hasn't it going back over the last several elections. So the new election coming up in two years time, one would be hoping that things are going to be a lot better. Are there any signs that the government is putting greater resources toward police to improve things.
SW: There are efforts being put in by the government. There's new vehicles being bought, additional manpower being trained, the middle management of the police being up skilled and new people recruited.
But the numbers are just too small to deal with the population.
Like Papua New Guinea talking about the elections, there's a large number of guns in the Highlands. And generally, if you talk to members of the disciplinary forces - the PNG Defence Force, the police - they will tell you that when they go into the villages, they're largely outnumbered and outgunned by tribesmen who are very heavily armed during elections.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Residential Crime Fighting Force: Great Neighbours May Be The Key
A new nationwide survey commissioned by AMI, reveals that New Zealanders have great neighbourhood connections that could emerge as the key to combating residential petty crime. [1] Women and seniors over 65 are currently shown to be doing more than any other group in contributing to neighbourhood security. 54% of seniors tend to mind neighbours' homes when they are away, which is nearly a third more than people aged 25-44. They are also the most likely to keep in touch with neighbours and participate in coordinated neighbourhood watch activities. The strength of community connection appears to be closely tied with home ownership, with one in five homeowners claiming to know their neighbours very well, compared to only one in twelve renters. Nearly twice as many homeowners say they look after their neighbours' homes when they're away (40%) compared to renters who take on that role (21%). AMI Executive General Manager Customer, Wayne Tippet says that getting to know your neighbours can be an important part of the home security toolkit. 'Our data shows a 20% drop in residential theft and vandalism-related claims from 2019 to the post-Covid year of 2023. This correlates with the period that New Zealanders were spending more time at home. 'We often think of extra home security as deadlocks, guard dogs and fancy alarms, but you cannot underestimate the power of a community keeping watch. In this way, being a great ally to the people next door can be just as important. Wayne suggests putting this to the test for people heading away this Matariki long weekend. 'We see that break-ins, theft and accidental damage claims increase on average by around 10% on long weekends, compared to regular weekends. So, alerting your trusted neighbours to your movements to help step up security while you're away, is a smart idea. 'We know from widespread research that people that foster strong community ties, like contributing to neighbourhood watch, for example, tend to experience lower crime rates.' Are New Zealanders more neighbourly? It appears that New Zealanders tend to be more neighbourly. In New Zealand, 86% of those surveyed have met their neighbours, and 72% of respondents indicate that they have a positive relationship with neighbours. This compares to a 2025 US study [2] which reports that only 31% of Americans indicated that they knew all their neighbours, and in the UK a 2023 survey [3] where 61% of Brits say they felt a 'sense of belonging' in their neighbourhood. The study also shows that rural-based New Zealanders were more likely to know their neighbours well (52%), than people located closer to the main centres (42%). Wayne adds: 'This analysis goes some way to confirm what many of us already know – that New Zealanders are more neighbourly than the countries we compare ourselves to most. 'New Zealanders know that neighbourliness isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a real asset when it comes to keeping our homes and communities safe, and a powerful tool to support lonely or isolated people. Whether it's checking in on a neighbour's house when they're away or simply sharing a cuppa over the fence, those small acts of connection can make a big difference to people and communities.' Note: [1] Ipsos research commissioned by AMI March 2025. Nationally representative survey of New Zealanders, total base size of n=1,001, and a margin of error of ±3.00. [1] Community Connectedness (Pew Research Center, 2025 ) How connected do Americans feel to their neighbors? [1] United Kingdom, Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (2024). Community Life Survey 2023/24 annual publication. About AMI: AMI has been looking out for New Zealanders for almost 100 years and is part of IAG New Zealand, the largest general insurer in the country. IAG New Zealand also trades under the State, NZI, NAC, Lumley and Lantern brands, and provides the general insurance products sold by ASB, BNZ, Westpac and The Co-operative Bank. IAG New Zealand employs over 4,000 people, holds relationships with one in every two New Zealand households, and insures over NZ$1.07 trillion of commercial and domestic assets. AMI goes beyond insurance, offering several adjacent services to get customers back on their feet faster following their claim. AMI MotorHub has sites in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, with specialist teams delivering vehicle repair, maintenance and recovery services, as well as improved customer satisfaction (NPS). AMI HomeHub, operates in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch, and brings together quality tradespeople, claims assessors and project coordinators, for simple, speedy home repairs. And AMI Roadside Rescue provides award-winning roadside service nationwide and is now available for free to all AMI Comprehensive Car insurance customers. *
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Residential Crime Fighting Force: Great Neighbours May Be The Key
A new nationwide survey commissioned by AMI, reveals that New Zealanders have great neighbourhood connections that could emerge as the key to combating residential petty crime.[1] Women and seniors over 65 are currently shown to be doing more than any other group in contributing to neighbourhood security. 54% of seniors tend to mind neighbours' homes when they are away, which is nearly a third more than people aged 25-44. They are also the most likely to keep in touch with neighbours and participate in coordinated neighbourhood watch activities. The strength of community connection appears to be closely tied with home ownership, with one in five homeowners claiming to know their neighbours very well, compared to only one in twelve renters. Nearly twice as many homeowners say they look after their neighbours' homes when they're away (40%) compared to renters who take on that role (21%). AMI Executive General Manager Customer, Wayne Tippet says that getting to know your neighbours can be an important part of the home security toolkit. 'Our data shows a 20% drop in residential theft and vandalism-related claims from 2019 to the post-Covid year of 2023. This correlates with the period that New Zealanders were spending more time at home. 'We often think of extra home security as deadlocks, guard dogs and fancy alarms, but you cannot underestimate the power of a community keeping watch. In this way, being a great ally to the people next door can be just as important. Wayne suggests putting this to the test for people heading away this Matariki long weekend. 'We see that break-ins, theft and accidental damage claims increase on average by around 10% on long weekends, compared to regular weekends. So, alerting your trusted neighbours to your movements to help step up security while you're away, is a smart idea. 'We know from widespread research that people that foster strong community ties, like contributing to neighbourhood watch, for example, tend to experience lower crime rates.' Are New Zealanders more neighbourly? It appears that New Zealanders tend to be more neighbourly. In New Zealand, 86% of those surveyed have met their neighbours, and 72% of respondents indicate that they have a positive relationship with neighbours. This compares to a 2025 US study[2] which reports that only 31% of Americans indicated that they knew all their neighbours, and in the UK a 2023 survey[3] where 61% of Brits say they felt a 'sense of belonging' in their neighbourhood. The study also shows that rural-based New Zealanders were more likely to know their neighbours well (52%), than people located closer to the main centres (42%). Wayne adds: 'This analysis goes some way to confirm what many of us already know - that New Zealanders are more neighbourly than the countries we compare ourselves to most. 'New Zealanders know that neighbourliness isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a real asset when it comes to keeping our homes and communities safe, and a powerful tool to support lonely or isolated people. Whether it's checking in on a neighbour's house when they're away or simply sharing a cuppa over the fence, those small acts of connection can make a big difference to people and communities.' Note: [1] Ipsos research commissioned by AMI March 2025. Nationally representative survey of New Zealanders, total base size of n=1,001, and a margin of error of ±3.00. [1] Community Connectedness (Pew Research Center, 2025 ) How connected do Americans feel to their neighbors? [1] United Kingdom, Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (2024). Community Life Survey 2023/24 annual publication. About AMI: AMI has been looking out for New Zealanders for almost 100 years and is part of IAG New Zealand, the largest general insurer in the country. IAG New Zealand also trades under the State, NZI, NAC, Lumley and Lantern brands, and provides the general insurance products sold by ASB, BNZ, Westpac and The Co-operative Bank. IAG New Zealand employs over 4,000 people, holds relationships with one in every two New Zealand households, and insures over NZ$1.07 trillion of commercial and domestic assets. AMI goes beyond insurance, offering several adjacent services to get customers back on their feet faster following their claim. AMI MotorHub has sites in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, with specialist teams delivering vehicle repair, maintenance and recovery services, as well as improved customer satisfaction (NPS). AMI HomeHub, operates in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch, and brings together quality tradespeople, claims assessors and project coordinators, for simple, speedy home repairs. And AMI Roadside Rescue provides award-winning roadside service nationwide and is now available for free to all AMI Comprehensive Car insurance customers. *
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Scoop
Influencer Not Disqualified From Vanuatu 'Golden Passport' Due To No Conviction
Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist A Pacific editor for the newsroom that found online influencer Andrew Tate has Vanuatu citizenship says Tate was not disqualified from getting the "golden passport" because he has not been convicted. Tate, a self-described misogynist, faces charges of rape and human trafficking in both the United Kingdom and Romania. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) found Tate was granted citizenship in December 2022. Dan McGarry, an editor with OCCRP, said the passport was issued about 15 days after Tate was detained in Romania. Tate bought into the "golden passport" scheme, formally known as citizenship by investment, where applicants can be granted Vanuatu citizenship for a minimum investment of $US130,000. McGarry said the citizenship commissioner - who has been newly appointed in the role - was surprised to find out who Tate was. "He expressed regret, but at the same time, he said that once a submission has been made, once the application is put to the commission, nothing short of a criminal conviction or false representation on the application itself is sufficient to stop the process," McGarry said. He said despite the charges, because Tate has not been convicted, "none of that is disqualifying". "I think if it comes out that there's a conviction that arises, it's possible that his citizenship may be revoked as a result." McGarry said there are several reasons why people want a Vanuatu passport, including not for nefarious reasons. "There is a fairly legitimate argument to be made for citizens of repressive regimes whose travel is restricted by their local authorities." But for Tate, Vanuatu citizenship could have seemed appealing because there's no extradition treaty between Vanuatu and Romania. "[Tate's] on the record saying that he has multiple passports and that he prefers to live in places where he can effectively buy his way out of any problem that he's facing. "However, he's now facing criminal charges in the UK as well. That was just confirmed last week and there is a very long-standing extradition agreement between the UK and Vanuatu, so I'm not sure the passport is going to do what he thought it would do originally." Citizenship by investment started in 1984 in the Caribbean, with Vanuatu launching its own scheme in 2017. "It structured it in such a way that it was very easy for people outside of Vanuatu to insert themselves into the process by acting as sub agents, effectively selling citizenship and that made it very lucrative," McGarry said. Until 2024, Vanuatu citizens had visa-free access to the Schengen area in the EU. "It made the Vanuatu passport very, very attractive, and the price was somewhat better than some of the earlier programs," McGarry said. He said citizenship by investment programmes at one point were the single largest source of government revenue in Vanuatu. "You can imagine how attractive that made it to politicians who had always been very financially limited in terms of delivering programmes for people domestically. "It's been very, very hard for the government to walk away from it, because there's just so much money to be made." The Vanuatu Citizenship Commission chairman, Charles Maniel, has told the Vanuatu Daily Post it can't carry out any revocation until allegations are proven by a court of law.
