2 weeks Ago By Merolyn Ten
KIMININGA Police Barracks in Western Highlands province has commissioned a refurbished ablution block from the Australian Federal Police, for its trainee members. The ablution block contains facilities also for people living with disabilities to ensure all members of the police attending training would have access to it when there is the need. “The Mt Hagen Police is appreciative towards the Australia Federal Police for funding this new ablution block, which was contracted to the local company, Peak Builders Limited,” said Western Highlands Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent John Sangom recently.
He said all police men and women for the purposes of training would use the new facility. Chief Supt Sangom said that the facility was not only for police training, but also to foster the work of police in the highlands region and PNG. Meanwhile, the Australian High Commission to PNG deputy Head of Mission Dr Joanne Loundes expressed gratitude towards the highlands police for allowing her to travel to Mt Hagen to open the new facility.
After cutting the ribbon and inspecting the ablution block, Dr Loundes said the facilities would make the members’ lives bit more enjoyable when using it. She had cut the ribbon in the presence of the deputy Operations Commander Police Samson Kua and all the other highlands provincial police commanders. Furthermore, a one month training was conducted by the AFP through the Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP) under the program includes training in less-than-lethal use of force and the provision of appropriate munitions and equipment to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.
This initiative was part of the Bilateral Security Agreement, addressing critical capability gap for the RPNGC, ensuring the use of proportional force during incidents such as civil disorder or encounters with armed offenders. Australia has supported PNG’s law and justice sector since the late 1980s and currently delivers this support through three pillars; the PNG-Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP), the Justice Services and Stability for Development Program(JSS4D) and smaller select investments in PNG’s law and justice sector. The partnership currently consists of 42 Advisors and is designed as a 10-year vision.
The overarching partnership goal is for the RPNGC to be a professional, effective and trusted community oriented police service..
