Close to 200 policewomen engaged for FIFA World Cup

Close to 200 Policewomen will be engaged in security operations during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

A three-day workshop that commenced on Monday at the Laguna Hotel has assigned 51 policewomen as Team Security Liaison Officers (TSLOs) to the 16 participating teams and 130 women police officers from other centres will be flown into Port Moresby to commence security operations at the end of this month.

 Four female officers have also been appointed to be venue commanders and will be stationed at the match venues.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) Security manager, Hetahu Lohia said the workshop is to familiarise the women with their roles and responsibilities during the tournament.

Similar to the Tri-Nations tournament, each team will be allocated two to three TSLOs and a TLO who will be attached with the teams for the duration of the tournament.

Police Commissioner, Gari Baki in opening the workshop congratulated the officers who were selected to be TSLOs saying the principal security for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup lies entirely on the women of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).

“I had given an undertaking that I want our policewomen to be at the forefront and that is why we’ll be deploying a big number of policemen for this tournament,” said Baki.

Commissioner Baki encouraged the female officers to be ambassadors for both PNG and RPNGC because it is the first time that PNG is hosting an international football event and it will mean that the RPNGC will be under the spotlight because it is the lead agency is providing security for the teams that are coming.

 “The challenge will be an eye opener for every one of us because it is the first occasion that will put us under the spotlight and also prepare us for future international events.

“The challenge is there, what you do now will have a reflection on how we prepare ourselves for APEC as well, because we will use the experience that you have gained through the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to assist us in planning for APEC,” said Baki..

The security operations order has had input from the National Intelligence Office and other security partners to ensure the safety and security of the fans, international media and teams that will be in Port Moresby during the three-week tournament. 

 

Author: 
Troy Taule