PNG Police Commissioner announces pay increase for Police

PUBLIC safety will be the main focus of the police next year, Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga says.

Speaking at the police end of year parade in Port Moresby last Friday, Kulunga said resourcing the force and front line policing would be emphasised in the New Year.

He announced a 7.5% pay increase annually for police officers for the next three years.

He said the Government had boosted the morale of the force by pumping in K276 million over a five-year period, which will produce significant improvements, including an increase in the number of officers in the nation’s capital to 8,000 by 2015.

“This is a very important and critical area of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, which has been neglected for too long. We have been focusing on specialist branches to the neglect of public safety,” Kulunga said. 

“In terms of police infrastructure, we have built and will continue to build new police barracks and stations around the country as well as maintain police facilities.”

Kulunga highlighted the year’s achievements in the force, which included the PNG-Australia Policing Partnership and the reopening of the recruit training programme after more than 10 years.

One PNG / The national