By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
Violent Crime trend in Port Moresby has changed from organized armed robbery and carjacking incidences to ethnic clashes over the last five years, National Capital District /Central Police commander Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Wagambie jnr says .
And this ethnic clash is expected to spill over into central province due to influx of migration of people migrating into the NCD.
Mr Wagambie said that during the launching of NCD/Central Policing Plan 2023 that Policing trend in NCD Metropolitan has also evolved with the influx of people pouring into the city over the past 10 years or so presenting a new challenge to the constabulary. “There has been a significant Influx of people into NCD and slowly into Central Province .The increased rural to urban drift is evident in NCD and Central. People are moving to the City for various reasons. Whether it be for better accessibility of services, education, employment opportunities or even escaping from tribal conflicts especially from Highland region to name a few. This is impacting on all government and municipal services including Police”.
“The biggest concern confronting the city now is the ever-persistent threat of ethnic violence. About five years ago, the policing trend in the city was different, where organized crime gangs were actively operating. An average of 4 – 5 or more armed robberies and motor vehicle thefts were reported across the city per day, until the introduction of the Zone Policing concept in 2017. The creation of the NCD Sector Patrol Fox units specifically confined to the three electorates of NCD effectively reduced the rate of robberies and motor vehicle thefts to about 1 or 2 per week”.
