MILNE BAY STILL STRUGGLING DUE TO LIMITED POLICE NUMBERS
BY RICKY ISRAEL
Police manpower continues to plague Milne Bay province with officer numbers limiting police visibility in the province.
Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Benjamin Kua says the province currently has only 71 police officers to cover more than 600 islands spread across a large maritime area.
He says the police to population ratio in the province is about one officer to 2,500 to 3,000 people, which makes policing very difficult.
Chief Inspector Kua says the national average is already stretched, but Milne Bay is worse due to its scattered island geography and transport challenges.
He says the distance between islands creates major difficulties for police response and operations.
He adds that a single officer in Alotau cannot quickly respond to incidents in remote areas such as the Trobriand Islands or Misima.
Chief Inspector Kua said most officers are based in Alotau, while districts such as Esa’ala and Kiriwina have very limited police presence.
He says Milne Bay waters are also affected by piracy and drug trafficking, requiring stronger water police support.
Chief Inspector Kua says around 200 to 300 additional officers are needed, along with more accommodation to support police deployment across the province.
He is calling on the Police Ministry and the Government to urgently address the shortage and strengthen policing in Milne Bay Province.
