The East Sepik Council of Women in Papua New Guinea says the police in Wewak are very violent and the public are scared.
PNG's acting police commissioner, Simon Kauba, has set up a high level investigation into the alleged rape at the weekend of a 19-year old girl, by Wewak-based policemen.
It will also look into the detention of a woman activist at the Wewak police station, who went there, with the girl's family, to lodge an official complaint.
Norah Kapari from the East Sepik Council of Women says after an unrelated incident on Wednesday where a drunk soldier was severely beaten by police in the township, other soldiers stormed the police station in retaliation.
That sparked disorder and looting in the town but she says police have gained control again.
Norah Kapari says the people want the Commissioner of Police in PNG to come into the town and flush out the bad elements in the local police force.
"The police are very violent now they are not doing the proper work that they were trained to do so the people are scared of the police."
Norah Kapari from the East Sepik Council of Women.
