Papua New Guinea's opposition leader has called for a police ombudsman to be established to deal with what he calls a chronic lack of training and expertise in the police force.
PNG's police need a watchdog for what Don Polye says is a lack of training and expertise. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Papua New Guinea's opposition leader has called for a police ombudsman to be established to deal with what he calls a chronic lack of training and expertise in the police force.
Don Polye's call comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the alleged police killing of two betel nut vendors in a Port Moresby suburb that sparked a week of protests, as well as other recent incidents of alleged misconduct.
Mr Polye says training in the force needs to be improved, and an ombudsman established to deal with reports of police brutality throughly and independently.
"To check up on the police, keep up with their training, making sure they're delivering their law enforcement services, and [that] professional diligence is always there. And I think that would be a good body, an independent body to be a watchdog for the police force."
Don Polye says the ombudsman must have powers to prosecute and order compensation.
