A video showing heated altercation between two female police officers at the entrance of Bomana Police Training College in Port Moresby days ago cannot be taken for granted.
There is more to it than meets the eye. The Police Force has been subject to higher public scrutiny due to increased police brutality. If there is any substance in it, definitely the policing service delivery will be affected. We commend the Police Commissioner for having suspended the two officers for their unprofessional conduct too.
JUSTIFICATION ON POLICE BRUTALITY
We spoke to some members of the force on why they were using force and violence against the public in discharging their duties. They have told us that PNG is a country with poor compliance to rule of law. Thus, they have justified that in order for the civilians to be law-compliant, police brutality is used on repeated offenders and first timers. However, two wrong do not make a right. The State has paid a huge price in damages claimed by victims of police brutality.
SELECTION PROCESS FOR POLICE RECRUITMENT
Contrary to this, compromised selection process of police training and recruitment- as allegedly exposed in the video- costs the country. There are countless instances of swearing, fighting between disciplined forces, stealing, lack of public relations, assaults, break and enter, excessive use of force, abuse of uniforms, getting intoxicated while being on duty, taking drugs and other unprofessional conducts inflicted on civilians by a handful members of the force. One wonders where are all these coming from? From the training, peer pressure or through the window? To restore public confidence and maintain its integrity, strategies have been sought to address these problems. The Internal Affairs Unit, a watchdog within the force, is commendable. However, some cases are taking longer than it should be as justice is being delayed. Part of the solution, if not the entire all, to end ill-manners and above-the-law behaviors lies with the integrity of police recruitment selection process. The merit of the recruitment and training is as good as well-mannered pass-outs. Those who have come through the back door or bought their way have contributed to police brutality. Those who are the gatekeepers of the selection process must ensure recruits are selected on merit, not through bribery or nepotism. The Government aims to build the force up to 10,000 personnel. As such, gate keeping is very important to ensure fit and proper officers join the force.
OTHER DISCIPLINARY FORCES
Away from the police recruitment selection, the same is true for Defense Force and the Correctional Service recruitment selection. Back-door deals are hindering the progress of the disciplined forces and entire country. Gate keepers should leave last legacies, not miseries.
PUBLIC SERVICE FOR BREAD AND BUTTER, NOT FOR ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS & VISIONS
Using this opportunity to comment, the general Public Service is full of people working for bread and butter than those who are there to help achieve organizational goals, objectives and visions. The latter will help progress the country’s developments. Showing dry face and ill-manners to clients at the front desk or in their offices is becoming a new normal. PNG will turn 50 next year (2025). We should have a modern public service, not liabilities. Those who have spent years in the public services regard their work place as their ‘father’s farms’ with no-care and poor attitudes. Irrespective of perks and privileges, they supposed to be proud public servants whose wages and salaries are paid for by their clients (tax payers).
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend that the recruitment process of the disciplinary forces should be digitalized. One-strike-you-are-out policy should be implemented across the public service and the disciplinary forces. Cases must be fast-tracked in the Internal Affairs Unit with sufficient manpower. The public service appeal processes should be relaxed as opposed to the current regime which highly protects ill-mannered public service. We also concur with the former Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan who has proposed outsourcing of the public service so the State saves more than K4 billion allocated to personal emoluments annually.