Why do police lose most of their cases?

Over the years, because of lack of police investigative and prosecution training in the constabulary, the division has lost almost all of its cases in court.

Detective officers simply did not know how to compile and assemble a case file.

This consists of tying evidence together and conducting proper records of interviews to put in a brief to be handed over to prosecution to prosecute the case.

Assistant Commissioner for Police-Operation, Raphael Huafolo, revealed that officers do not know exactly what to do and this has resulted in police losing a lot of its cases.

Speaking to officers during the completion of an intensive five-week training specialising in investigations and prosecution, Huafolo said it is a nightmare and it is the reality in the constabulary that most officers lack that important skill.

He said there is no point in charging people when officers cannot sustain a conviction in court.

“We have a very serious problem and training is lacking that is why we could not sustain convictions because we do not know how to do the files properly. It is a terrible situation.”

Fortunately for the Royal PNG Constabulary, under the Papua New Guinea-Australia Policing Partnership Program, CID and Homicide detectives are able to go through training that will improve their skills in basic investigations and sustain convictions in court.

Huafolo challenged the detectives to take to heart the skills they have learnt and to teach their fellow colleagues the basics of their training.

Due to the department’s financial constraints, Huafolo said the constabulary can only do so much, adding that once funding becomes available, similar training programs will be conducted nationwide for officers.

(Assistant Commissioner for Police-Operation, Raphael Huafolo)

Author: 
Annette Kora