Final Aussie police contingent arrives in PNG

THE FINAL contingent of Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers arrived at Jackson International Airport in the nation’s capital on Saturday.

The 10 officers will be working alongside their counterparts in community policing operations in Port Moresby and Lae under the PNG-Australian Policing Partnership (PNG-APP).

AFP Assistant Commissioner Alan Scott said there were now 62 Australian police officers working in PNG.

“We have met the Australian Government’s promise of an additional 50 AFP officers to be working in PNG by the end of this year,” Scott said.

“Now that a full contingent is here, we are looking forward to working in partnership with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) to assist in developing their highly visible policing force.”

Scott said the PNG-APP will continue to provide assistance to the RPNGC to achieve its modernisation programme.

“Since the first group of 30 officers arrived in November, we have been working very closely with our RPNGC colleagues,” Scott said.

“The goal of our enhanced mission is, in partnership with RPNGC, to continue to develop the capacity of the RPNGC to provide sustainable and quality policing,” he said.

Australian High Commissioner, Deborah Stokes said partnership was at the heart of the deployment.

“The expanded police partnership is a demonstration of the closeness of our two nations and our shared commitment to the rule of law and democratic values and institutions.

“It takes place in the context of wide-ranging cooperation between Australia and PNG in the law and justice sector.”

Stokes said some impressive results, including the revitalisation of village courts, strong infrastructure development and an establishment of a number of family and sexual violence units at police stations across the country, had been achieved by this partnership.

The AFP officers do not have policing power in PNG, but provide advice, guidance and assistance for a range of day-to-day matters.