Specialized police units created in Manus

Three new units have been created by police in Manus to cater for the increase in cases reported in the province.

Family Sexual Violence (FSV), Sexual Offences Squad, (SOS) and Transnational Crime unit (TCU) are new units.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu said creation of the Sexual Offense Squad is in response to reported cases of rape, sexual penetration, child molesting, incest and sexual touching in the province.

He said there are serious offences and must be dealt by appropriate unit so that the perpetrators are dealt with the full force of the law with punitive punishment.

Last year 2017, we had a highest record on number of sexual offences reported to police and I was concern on how best we could deal with those cases, therefore I had to establish the unit to specifically deal with sexual offences cases” Yapu said.

Yapu has instructed his officers not to entertain any mediation or compensation payment for sexual offences but allow the normal process to go through law and offenders are dealt accordingly to the rule of the law.

“I am appealing to village court magistrates, ward councilors and other community leaders that they, do not have power or jurisdiction to deal with sexual offences cases and imposed penalty but, refer those cases to police for appropriate action,” said Yapu.

The province has also seen a large number of domestic violence cases reported which saw the establishment of the Family and sexual violence unit.

“It was also a concern to me due large number of domestic violence cases being reported to police and not properly handle by police under appropriate Act like family protection Act which sees the offenders, especially the husbands got off with lighter penalty,” he said.

The Family and Sexual Violence unit which has been allocated a vehicle will also assist victims or survivors with interim protection order (IPO) from the courts.

Meantime Police in Manus are now utilizing the refurbished double story building which was funded by the Australian Government at the cost of K13.5 million.

The building project came as a result of the province accommodating the Asylum seekers and Refugees for processing. It was completed last December by Fletcher Morobe.

Police moved into the building on Monday and PPC Yapu said the new building will boost their moral to provide the best and quality police services to the people of Manus.

He challenge his officers to properly look after the building and maintain its cleanliness and also a high level of discipline to restore public confidence in their Policing duties.

The building will be open at a later date.

 

Photo: Front of new police building and family sexual violence unit vehicle.

Author: 
Sally Pokiton