The Lae metropolitan police 24 hours operations room is now on WhatsApp.
The WhatsApp account is linked to the 24-hr toll free emergency number 7090 3300, which was launched recently.
Lae metropolitan supt, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, says this is another initiative to keep police contact accessible.
The first two steps were through the creation of a Facebook page and then a police emergency toll free number.
The Facebook page is utilised more as a public relations and information sharing tool, which allows users to know what Lae Police is doing and to disseminate information.
The toll free emergency number has been very popular and useful to both the public and Police.
More people are alerting Police incidents happening in their community.
“With the police emergency toll free number, we have found that we have more workload, as the public are able to call in for Police, where we make sure they are attended to,” says Wagambie Jnr.
The Lae Police boss says he initiated the idea of having WhatsApp installed on all police emergency toll free numbers. This is in partnership with Digicel.
Wagambie Jnr states: “I brought this idea up with Digicel Northern region manager last week. After some discussions, Digicel PNG agreed to support Lae Metropolitan Police trial this new project.
“You don't have to necessarily have to be a victim or complainant at most times, but can send information to Police so that the incident is attended to.”
Users also have the option to send to police their exact location by using one of the features of the application.
“We have experienced problems when police units are sent to attend to incidents and have to search around for the exact location of the complainant or incident taking place. Now users can send their location to police operations room where the radio operator will dispatch a unit to the exact location,” says the Lae police boss.
“I want to assure the people of Lae that we will continue to attend to any occurrences reported to Police.”
He further commends Digicel PNG for their continued support in helping make Lae safer.
“I had thought of this for a while, of how to get the public more interactive with Police. I am very happy that it has now eventually gotten off the ground,” states Wagambie Jnr.
(File picture of Lae police)