CCTV

The security personnel providing security at the counting centre have set up the CCTV cameras to monitor the movement of people in and out of the counting centre, and monitor how the quality check is conducted. 

Madang Provincial Police Commander, Acting Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang said the CCTV cameras are for transparency purposes and to make sure there is no foul play at the counting centre. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for NCD and Central, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, outlined that this comes under the NCD/Central Divisional Command’s annual management plan for 2021.

“We had started this off in Lae when I was there in my previous capacity as Metsupt Lae. The location at Lae Main Market with the monitoring point within the Market Police Station proved to be an effective policing tool.

“On my arrival in this command, I had initial talks with various stakeholders regarding plans to have this rolled out in NCD but on a wider scale.”

The law, however, will be catching up with them as Lae chief superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, says they have done scoping work on sites where the next set of CCTV cameras will be placed.

“Top Town and Eriku is next in line. We will be using wireless connectivity so the control centre will be in our new Communications Centre which is currently under construction,” he stated.

The identification of perpetrators and their apprehension, leading to formal arrests, has been made possible through the use of CCTV.

“The 63 arrests have been made by Market Police and Special Response Unit 101 members,” said metropolitan superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr.

“These are mainly street vending, drunk and disorderly behaviour and traffic offences at the bus stop. Unauthorised PMV crew or most commonly called ‘K5 boss crew’ here in Lae have also been apprehended and arrested.

Lae metropolitan superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, attributed this to the support of three members of the Chinese community in Lae.

“We were approached by them and asked how they could help Police in securing a safer community in Lae,” he stated.

“Lae Market was identified as one of our ‘hot spots’ where petty crimes, street selling, vehicle tampering and general harassment of the public took place.

“This was agreed upon and two High Definition rotating CCTVs were purchased from China and brought into Lae.

This afternoon they opted to purchase the CCTV for counting in NCD after Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato told them that the use of CCTV was not budgeted for, when responding to their petition.

He also told them that by law, scrutineers were allowed to scrutinize polling and counting.