During Lae City's New Year celebrations, a Back Road Community had surrendered homebrew equipment, guns and drugs as part of efforts to start afresh.
They’ll be starting a community law and order taskforce with help from the Police Metropolitan command. Lae’s back road area has for a long time lived up to its reputation as one the most notorious areas for crime.
This year alone several murders and rapes have been reported the most disturbing have been that of a Lutheran pastor and of a woman raped and killed.
Much of the trouble has stemmed from illegal alcohol and drugs. One community surrendered their homebrew equipment as well as guns and a small amount of marijuana.
This small action by the community puts just a small dent in the high crime statistics. But it’s the lengths this community is willing to go, to stop crime that could make the difference.
Metropolitan Superintendent, Iven Lakatani says the police service is going to help out with programs to reduce crime in the area.
“We are going to help you set up a law and order community taskforce,” he said.
Over the next 12 months, they’ll be setting up a law and order taskforce tasked to carry out community crime prevention program aimed at cracking down on offenders and protecting those who live within it.
The community has also made a special appeal to the government for water and power.
Despite being about a kilometre from the Lae industrial centre, the Mendari community receives no power and no water.
