From now onwards, the Boroko Police Cells will be known as the ‘Boroko Watch House’.
The Watch House boasts a newly-refurbished sterile area, an exercise/sun bath booth, an interview room and a new Cell Management System (CMS), among others.
“The new cell management system will be used to keep track of all detainees with their particulars,” said NCD-Central Police Commander, Sylvester Kalaut, during the official reopening today.
“With this system, we are optimistic that it will help reduce the opportunity for unlawful release of detainees from cells.”
At the Watch House, detainees’ pictures will be taken along with their fingerprints and entered into the system, a welcome and much-needed change for PNG’s law enforcement sector.
“Furthermore, the Watch House will serve as a filter. When detainees are to be admitted into the cells, the arresting/investigating officer must ensure that the detainees must have been lawfully arrested and charged,” stated Kalaut.
“Not only that, the Information Sheets (Form 16 District Court Act) must be duly done and statements of victims/complainants and witnesses must also be attached.
“Without information sheets or statements, the detainees will be refused entry.”
The cells have been reopened after being condemned in March 2016.
The refurbishment exercise, carried out by AP Engineering Ltd, costed K370,000.
“So far, the Constabulary has only paid K288,000. A balance of K82,000 remains,” added Kalaut.
A parade was held today at Boroko to mark the reopening of the newly-refurbished cells.
(NCD-Central Police Commander, Sylvester Kalaut, with AFP’s Scott Lee during today’s reopening)