An Increase in police presence in the form of a foot beat Patrol will soon be out on the streets of Mt Hagen City maintaining law and order. This comes after numerous attacks by thugs on city dwellers and visitors.
Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander, Jacob Kamiak believes police presence needs to be felt, to allow the free movement of people in the city.
“I will set up a beat patrol in the city because they’ve posted new recruits from the Bomana Police College to Mt Hagen,” said PPC Kamiak.
The decision comes after the city began experiencing a spike in petty crime, with bags snatches; some attacked and being victims of knife wounds for fighting back, while, while carjacking and pickpocketing are still on going in the city.
PPC Kamiak also warned the public to be cautious at all times when shopping, banking, or leaving the vehicle to do other business.
“The police will not know when and where, when something bad happens. We can’t be in one location every time,” warns Kamiak.
Meanwhile, election-related fights in Western Highlands Province are beginning to slow down, with police controlling the situation. Several deaths occurred after the Local Level Government Council election, and a number of people were hospitalized after receiving gun and knife wounds.
“After all, elections in the Western Highlands (province) did not encounter big problems,” said the PPC.
Police in the Western Highlands province also have other challenges which have crippled them from their policing work in and out of the City. Police vehicles have not been serviced since the 2017 National elections, while funding also needs to be made available for police to do their work.
By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
