266 POLICE RECRUITS GRADUATE TODAY

BY Naomi TAKOMA

A total of 226 police recruits, comprising 221 males and 25 females, officially passed out today from the Bomana Police College in Port Moresby. This marks the second batch of the 2023 intake, following the first batch of 217 recruits who graduated last year.

The graduating recruits were divided into eight squads, with each squad producing a dux recipient. The overall dux of the 2023 second batch intake was SUATUO Kenneth from Squad 5, recognized for his outstanding performance in both academic and practical training.

This graduation is part of the Marape-Rosso Government’s commitment to building a stronger and more effective police force.

Prime Minister James Marape has reaffirmed his administration’s target to expand the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) to 10,000 uniformed officers by 2030.

Currently, PNG has a police-to-citizen ratio of approximately 1:1,845, which is significantly below the United Nations-recommended ratio of 1:341–450. To close this gap, the government has allocated over K700 million in the 2025 national budget to support recruitment, training, and operational efficiency within the force.

This includes a19% wage increase for police personnel, along with enhanced capital and operational funding. The RPNGC also reported receiving over 18,000 applications in its most recent nationwide recruitment drive, reflecting high interest among Papua New Guineans to serve in law enforcement.

These investments and reforms are part of a broader national strategy to address growing law and order challenges and ensure public safety across the country.