The Acting Assistant Police Commissioner for NCD and Central Police Command, Benjamin Turi this morning revealed that petty crimes and ethnic clash are on the rise while armed robbery and car theft are decreasing in the city.
ACP Turi was speaking at a media conference in Port Moresby this morning.
He told reporters that pick pocketing, bag snatching and stabbings linked to theft are rampant in the city.
To get rid of these petty crimes, ACP Turi said his police officers have strategic plans to make the city free of settlements in the heart of the city.
He referred to the 2024 Black Wednesday unrest, saying settlements within the city contributed to the destruction and damage on that day.
Like Lae City, he said, settlements in the capital city must be relocated to the periphery of the city.
This, he said, is to improve security, control crowd and support the city government to carry out its urban development plans for business and economic growth.
He commended the Neighborhood Watch; POM City Watch and City Warden programs initiated by NCD Governor Powes Parkop in collaboration with NCDC.
Responding to a question from PNG SUN on crime hotspots, ACP Turi said Gordons, Manu, Waigani market, Koki, Talair and Badili are the main areas affected.
He also raised concern over ethnic clashes that happen every weekend due to alcohol abuse.
These incidents, he said, are putting pressure on police as the number of regular officers is currently low.
To help manage the situation, ACP Turi said, 60 police reservists are undergoing training at the shooting range. The training will end next week, and they are expected to assist with crowd control and monitoring of street vendors.
City wardens and reservists are already helping police in hotspot areas, he said.
On the issue of evictions, ACP Turi made it clear that police only act on instructions from the courts.
“Evictions are done through courts, do not blame police or do not blame MPs,” he said.
He explained that police have no authority to evict anyone in the city without a court order from land title holders.
However, he said on customary land, eviction can be carried out without a court order based on concerns raised by landowners.
Meanwhile, further evictions are planned or ongoing in several areas.
At 2-Mile, eviction will continue, he said.
Currently there’s an eviction at the back of Hohola Mobil service station with less than 10 or 20 houses there,” he said.
The 8-Mile eviction is waiting for a court order, while the main one is 9-Mile that involves a previous killing.
The 4-Mile eviction is on hold and is now before the court, ACP Turi said.