A provincial police commander in Papua New Guinea says he is happy with the progress he's making in trying to rebuild a broken police force.
Papua New Guinea police Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Superintendent Peter Barkie said for three years the people of Milne Bay had been without an effective police force.
He said after a confrontation between police and the notorious Tommy Baker gang in town of Alotau, there was a breakdown in leadership and police refused to serve in the area, leaving it with no real police presence until he arrived four months ago.
Barkie said he is delighted with the progress they were now making.
"I realised I am dealing with a demoralised force.
"I realised I am dealing with a local people who have been left without leadership for about three or four years, and there was total breakdown in command and control. So I decided to start from ground zero - and that is re-training and those re-trainings started from very basic things."
The region continued to have issues with criminality.
In September and again last week there were gun fights in Alotau.
Barkie said no one was shot in the latest incidents but a number of people were arrested.
Also last week it was revealed two officers were facing rape charges over of attacks that had allegedly occurred inside the Alotau police station.
Map showing Alotau in Southern PNG Photo: Google
