Lae Metropolitan Commander, Chief Superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, says the current manpower of 360 policer officers for Lae is inadequate to curb street vending and petty crimes.
The problem needs a collaborative effort from both the police and the city authority to have enough men on the ground to prevent these illegal activities from continuing.
Lae Police have been doing foot patrols near the city’s main bus stops and in main shopping areas. However, the number of police officers is not enough to control petty crimes.
Wagambie, is calling on the city authority to work with police to bring in more men to assist police.
Wagambie said, the Morobe Provincial Government should control the growth of squatter settlements in the city. Adding, that the increase in squatter settlements is creating an environment for vendors to live.
Lae City Council Manager, Roy Kamen, says they had initially employed 80 men to assist in curbing street vending and petty crimes.
The men were employed under the direction from the Morobe Provincial Government following a demonstration by Morobean youth last year over street selling and harassing of women and girls.
To date, only 20 men are employed by the city council. The other 60 of them were laid off from work due to lack of funds.
The Lae City Council have made provisions in the 2017 budget to cater for the continuation of this program.
Kamen says, they have been assisting Eriku police with vehicles to carry out their policing duties.
