(Report by Police Media Officer Kari Totona.)
A second batch of 50 police personnels from the National Capital District Task Force better known as the Fox Units ended a week-long training at the Bomana Police Training College last Friday on the use of force.
This training was facilitated by the Papua New Guinea Australian Policing Partnership (PNGAPP) with the aim of training the members on the use of force when restraining and making an arrest on offenders.
Deputy Police Commissioner Special Operations Mr Donald Yamasombi said this training is important as it will equip police personnels with skills to approach the public with confidence when carrying out their duties as police officers.
“Going forward, we are looking at reducing the number of members we have in order to have a responsive elite unit in the city that can respond to calls as and when necessary,” Mr Yamasombi said.
He said the management was concerned with the way certain members handled situations in their line of duties. This has prompted the PNGAPP to provide this training to help correct the actions taken then and get the members back on track by identifying and rightfully applying the necessary force to be used in their line of duty.
“Do not think that because you are wearing the police uniform you have all the powers on you to do whatever you like. We owe it to the people, and the people have an expectation from us to treat them properly,” he said.
He said having these skills and knowledge in frontline policing will certainly boost the morale of the members, which in turn will impact positively on the image and profile of the Constabulary.
Mr Yamasombi thanked the trainers from the Special Service Division (SSD), PNGAPP and the RPNGC management, as they embarked on more refresher programs to rejuvenate and instil upon policemen and policewomen that their fundamental business is protecting and serving the people.
Meanwhile, Acting Commander PNGAPP Superintendent Brett Kidner said the training was the start of a process to provide members with the skills, knowledge and the background needed to do their jobs as part of a professional policing service.
He acknowledged that policing is a service to the community, the government, the people, and the region as a whole. But that does not mean policing will not shift from “service to force”.
“Because there are times when we have to use force, but the force has to be proportionate to the threat and we are held accountable to that force we apply on members of the public,” he stressed.
He reminded members of the NCD Task Force to always be mindful of their conduct and maintain professionalism even when they are off duty as they play a vital role in the community they serve and live in.
“You are here to provide a professional service to your community of which you are part of, don’t forget that. When you take your uniform off and you go home on the weekend or you have your down time, you are part of that community and you have an expectation that you are able to be safe and secure in your own home.
“Your role very much shapes the attitude of the public. You are servants of the community,” Superintendent Kidner reminded the Task Force members.
Meanwhile, Sergeant Bevan Kamong who is attached to Fox 300 based at the airport, Zone 3 (Moresby North-East), said this is the first training he has had since joining the Constabulary in 1994.
“This is one of the best courses for quite a long time. Most of us, including those who passed out after us, haven’t done this course. It’s a good refresher course on the best way of approaching the public, especially offenders and how to take them in the process of an arrest,” he said.
Sgt Kamong thanked the PNGAPP and the constabulary for having selected him amongst the many to undergo the training and said after this training he will be better off in executing his police duties.
Can we also have such trainings in new Ireland? Can we go into partnership or something to deliver the training?