Detainees in North Fly command cells face serious food shortage
BY LYNETTE KIL
POLICE in the North fly command are considering reducing bail and skipping fresh arrests due to food shortage in the two main holding cells in Kuinga and Tabubil.
Acting police commander for North Fly Senior Inspector Anthony Toroipo told the Post-Courier yesterday that they are yet to receive funds from the Police Department from the 2019 budget breakdown.
“Right now we are spending our own money to buy food, especially sago and firewood to feed the detainees as the cells are running out of food.
“Business houses that we normally get prisoners rations from have refused to assist as our bills have increased,” said Mr Toroipo.
He said he has notified his superiors from the Border Command and the police headquarter in Port Moresby on Wednesday and is awaiting their response.
He said the possible action to take if the funding is prolonged is to cease arrests and reduce bail for minor crimes to a minimum K100.
Mr Toroipo said the main cells hold up to 40 inmates but the figure has increased to 50, that includes juveniles and women, adding that more than half of the detainees are charged with drug related offences.
‘We don’t have separate lock ups, therefore the cell is overcrowded and there is not much food to feed the detainees which is their basic right,” he said.
He said Kuinga has a lot of business houses including Ok Tedi mine and policing is important to maintain law and order for people to move freely and business houses to operate smoothly.
“I would like to appeal to business houses, including Ok Tedi mine, provincial and district administrations, and the national government to assist with the policing in North Fly.
“Managing criminal activity is not my or police private business, it takes everyone to ensure law and order prevails, and I would like to ask if anyone could become a good samaritan to help,” Mr Toroipo said.
Meanwhile, he said police will do normal policing for the upcoming Easter week. “We do have plans for special days.”
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