Minister urges police to get back to basics and improve standards

Police Minister Sir John Pundari has called on the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to go back to basics, saying improved standards must start with discipline, accountability, and respect for their profession, unifoms and also institutional housing provided to police officers.

Speaking during his first official media conference on Wednesday, Sir John stressed that police officers must show they deserve the houses they live in at police barracks, as part of restoring professionalism within the force.

He said housing was not an entitlement without responsibility, but a reflection of an officer’s discipline and integrity.

"If a policeman has a housing, he has the duty as a disciplined policeman to look after that house, in as much as he dresses well and presents himself," Sir John said.

“The house that a police officer lives in must be reflective of the standard he brings in as an officer of the state.”

"That's what they used to do when I was living out in Bomana with Mr. Pundari, who was one of our first cadet officers, and he was one of those who was a top student, first pass out from Bomana Police College," recalled the Minister.

"When inspections were done to the houses we were staying, as a small boy, I would watch this white man come. He would use his finger right on the louvre glass. And if there was a dust on it, oh, I tell you, I tell you, my uncle, Mr. Pundari, was reprimanded."

"And therefore, my auntie had to do everything under the sun to making sure that the home we lived in was reflective of the standards and the integrity of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary."

"Whilst we want to house you, your welfare audits will come on the back of this inspectorate as well, we want to ensure that investments in housings are being looked after well."

He said inspections of police housing would now form part of wider welfare and performance audits under a strengthened internal inspectorate, alongside checks on financial management and policing standards.

"I want to see KPIs (key performance indicators). I want to see duty statements - do the PPCs have KPIs to deliver on? Do they have KPIs for commanders down the line that report to him? For example, the police station commander, the rural commanders, the officers in charge of the crime division in each of these provinces."

Sir John said the RPNGC had lost focus on basic routines that once maintained discipline, including daily police station parades and clear duty instructions.

“We just now have to go back to the basics,” he said.

“If the basics of parades are not happening, we have lost the plot in ensuring, maintaining standards and police performance," he said, directing the Police Commissioner and senior police officers to start ensuring police station parades begin immediately.

The Minister said improved standards were critical if police were to effectively address rising lawlessness and maintain public trust.

He added that once government provides timely funding and support, there would be “no excuse whatsoever” for poor performance.

Sir John has now directed the Police Commissioner, David Manning, to strengthen the police internal inspectorate to carry out unannounced audits nationwide, covering performance, finances and welfare, to ensure police officers, regardless of rank and file, uphold the standards expected of them.