Serious crimes have dropped sharply since 2012, with police expressing confidence that the trend is likely to continue because of the many changes taking place in the force. Chief of Police Operations and Deputy Commissioner, Simon Kauba, revealed this on Monday when providing an overview of police operations and crime statistics to the newly appointed police minister Robert Atiyafa.
"Figures for serious crime reported in 2012 and previous years were much higher than the 2013 figures," Mr Kauba said. "Figures for the first quarter of this year, compared to last year for the same period, are very low."
The results, according to Mr Kauba, may be attributed to the success of the modernisation program. The program has seen community policing activities such as organising community consultative meetings to discuss law and order issues affecting the community. They focus on how the community can get involved in minimising crime in their respective communities. The low figures have also been attributed to the recent assistance of the Australian Federal Police.
There has also been a steady improvement in in-house police discipline and a commitment at the work place. Mr Kauba also revealed that robbery is by far the highest and most prevalent crime in major towns and cities. He said reports of robbery in Lae and Port Moresby are three to four times a day and sometimes on a busy Monday and Friday it exceeds to up to 12 cases in Port Moresby. Three quarters of these robberies are committed by people who have access to firearms, factory made or otherwise, stolen motor vehicles and who are often under the influence of alcohol.
For illicit drugs Mr Kauba said the statistics provided cannot be truly reflective of the extent of the problem, considering the fact that illicit drugs such as marijuana grows well in higher altitude areas of PNG. Cases reported on arrests only reflect the number of youths in possession of marijuana for self-consumption. The active youth population in locations where marijuana is grown have become so addicted that elders have now accepted the habit.
For serious sexual offences, major centers like Rabaul, Mt Hagen, Lae and Port Moresby are becoming common places for this crime.
According to statistics, Rabaul reported the highest rate of sexual offences followed by Port Moresby, Mt Hagen and Lae. Figures suggest that there has been an increase in the reports of serious sexual offences, and the offender in most incidences is known to the victim.
Police have been successful in their investigation and arrest of suspects, but more community awareness on how to prevent this crime is currently being incorporated as a strategy in ongoing police and community programs.
"Figures for serious crime reported in 2012 and previous years were much higher than the 2013 figures," Mr Kauba said. "Figures for the first quarter of this year, compared to last year for the same period, are very low."
The results, according to Mr Kauba, may be attributed to the success of the modernisation program. The program has seen community policing activities such as organising community consultative meetings to discuss law and order issues affecting the community. They focus on how the community can get involved in minimising crime in their respective communities. The low figures have also been attributed to the recent assistance of the Australian Federal Police.
There has also been a steady improvement in in-house police discipline and a commitment at the work place. Mr Kauba also revealed that robbery is by far the highest and most prevalent crime in major towns and cities. He said reports of robbery in Lae and Port Moresby are three to four times a day and sometimes on a busy Monday and Friday it exceeds to up to 12 cases in Port Moresby. Three quarters of these robberies are committed by people who have access to firearms, factory made or otherwise, stolen motor vehicles and who are often under the influence of alcohol.
For illicit drugs Mr Kauba said the statistics provided cannot be truly reflective of the extent of the problem, considering the fact that illicit drugs such as marijuana grows well in higher altitude areas of PNG. Cases reported on arrests only reflect the number of youths in possession of marijuana for self-consumption. The active youth population in locations where marijuana is grown have become so addicted that elders have now accepted the habit.
For serious sexual offences, major centers like Rabaul, Mt Hagen, Lae and Port Moresby are becoming common places for this crime.
According to statistics, Rabaul reported the highest rate of sexual offences followed by Port Moresby, Mt Hagen and Lae. Figures suggest that there has been an increase in the reports of serious sexual offences, and the offender in most incidences is known to the victim.
Police have been successful in their investigation and arrest of suspects, but more community awareness on how to prevent this crime is currently being incorporated as a strategy in ongoing police and community programs.
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