by Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The 1998 Police Act will be reviewed in order to toughen penalties for police officers that step out of line.
Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, announced this following an increase in allegations of police brutality against the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).
The Act was last reviewed in 1998.
The 1998 Police Act is divided into 11 parts. These parts are again separated into sub sections.
Commissioner Baki made the remarks targeting Part Four and Part Five of the Act, which looks at discipline and the principles a RPNGC member is supposed to uphold.
Before Independence, the constabulary had two different acts guiding the force. One was for police officers in the Papuan Region, created in 1922, while the other for those in the New Guinea Islands drafted in 1930.
In 1965, both acts were amended into what is now known as the RPNGC Act which was established under the pre-Independence RPNGC act of 1965.
Since its creation, parts of the Act were reviewed at least five times.
RPNGC remains the oldest institution in the country and has been in existence for over 120 years.
