The Commissioner of Police, David Manning, has made it clear that criminals carrying guns and other weapons are at high risk of being killed through the legitimate use of force by Disciplined Forces Personnel.
Mr Manning said the Government’s announced intention for legislative amendments on offences and categories of assault relating to officials involved in security and public administration will provide a further deterrence to targeted attacks.
“The Prime Minister has made it very clear to gunmen and other criminals that choose to carry weapons to cause fear and to harm other people, will most likely be shot and die as a result of their injuries,” the Commissioner said.
“An escalated response to a criminal brandishing a gun is law enforcement procedure in countries around the world, because the primary concern is the protection of the public ahead of the safety of the gunman.
“Reality is not like a movie, warning shots do not work if a gunman is about to shoot another person, and Disciplined Personnel are trained to fire at the centre of mass to stop an assailant. This is the chest and abdomen area, and in most instances these shots will kill the gunman.
“Every legal means will be used to prevent a criminal carrying a weapon in public from harming another person, be they members of the public or Disciplined Forces Personnel.
“There are no second chances when a suspect has a weapon and is not compliant with Police direction, they must be stopped from discharging the weapon.”
The Commissioner said the intended Criminal Code amendments to escalate the level of charge and penalties for attacks on security and government officials are a step forward in strengthening law and order.
“It must be clear to criminals that if they attempt to interference with the administration of Government and law and order in our country, they will be singled out and face harsher penalties.
“This is likely to include changes to categories of assault relating to private citizens, Members of the Disciplined Forces and Members of Parliament, and penalties dependent on aggravating circumstances as to the official assaulted, wounded or killed.
“Disciplined Forces personnel are the frontline of the Nation’s attack on criminals, and often their response is to target Police, Military or lawmakers.
“With the growth of international organised crime attempting to infiltrate our country that threat is growing, so we are increasing our mechanisms to meet these challenges.”
When it comes to violent crime using firearms, Mr Manning said several laws have been enacted to take action against people carrying weapons with intent to cause fear or harm.
“According to the Firearms Act, someone who threatens to discharge or points a firearm towards another person is committing a crime.
“Under the Arrest Act, authorised persons, meaning an official empowered to make an arrest under PNG laws, who attempts to affect an arrest a person and the suspect resists, are authorised to use all reasonable means to make the arrest.
“The threat is more serious when a person carrying a weapon is part of a group that is organised or able to use physical force. Under the Criminal Code, this means people carrying weapons to cause fear or terror, or to use a weapon against the functions of the Police or Defence Force, are committing a crime.
“In terms of Disciplined Forces personnel, under the Summary Offences Act, a person who assaults a member of the Police Force in the course of their duty is committing a crime.
“But the reality is that it does not matter if a gunman is threatening a Police Officer, a Soldier, a Parliament Member or any member of the public, as a means to protect lives an armed criminal will likely be shot and most likely killed.”
