By Bradley Mariori
Major crimes are manageable, but minor incidents are increasingly triggering clashes in the city, says Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Chris Kunyanban.
Kunyanban said phone and bag snatching, particularly in settlements, were triggering conflicts involving ethnic groups, gangs and peer groupings.
He highlighted that despite the National Government’s efforts to provide free education, many young people in urban centres such as Lae and Port Moresby were not attending school, contributing to a growing population of unskilled youths.
“They sit around the settlements, consume illicit alcohol and smoke marijuana and cause these fights,” Kunyanban said.
He also pointed to an increase in alcohol abuse and drug use, particularly marijuana.
Superintendent Kunyanban called on journalists to maintain an open mind when reporting on crime and consider the underlying causes.
“I want all you journalists to have an open mind when talking about crimes. Crimes are the result of certain causes. Police have jurisdiction to a certain extent and likewise the courts. The poverty level has increased, so will the crime,” he said.
He reiterated that while major crimes were manageable, minor incidents such as phone and bag snatching were increasingly triggering clashes involving ethnic groups, gangs and peer groupings.
