Bougainville Police Service (BPS)

He shared this sentiment recently in Buka during the opening of a week-long Custodian Management Training at the Hutjena Police Station in Buka in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

At the moment the BPS has a rehabilitation centre only at Bekut that houses a maximum of 50 prisoners but is now overcrowded.

Among them is Constable Jerome Tarcusy, 28, who wanted to join the Bougainville Police Service (BPS) to help his community, which is still suffering from the after-effects of the armed conflict on the island 20 years ago.

Based at Arawa police station in the Public Safety Unit, Constable Tarcusy believes he is making a difference.

“I am working very hard with my community to try to settle all the law and order issues before the referendum,” he says.

Officer in charge (OIC) for the Bougainville Police Service (BPS) training, Herman Birengka (Snr sergeant), is supervising the new recruits.

Snr sergeant Birengka, who was once the Police Station Commander for the Arawa Police Station, told Loop PNG that the main aim is to help pass outs carry out their duties more effectively, before actual deployment throughout the region.

“I have taken them on the streets of Buka, showing them how to do lengthy patrols and more importantly, their code of ethics towards work and duties,” Birengka said.

This to help extend the reach of law and justice services through North and South Bougainville.

Australian High Commission Counsellor Tim Bryson handed one vehicle over to Senior Sergeant John Popui and First Constable Lucy Nehemiah in Buin. A second vehicle was presented to Inspector Kingsley Lua at Buka Police Station.

The vehicles will be incorporated into the Royal PNG Constabulary fleet to serve prosecution and traffic operations in Buka, and the Family and Sexual Violence Unit in Buin.