Manning directs police to immediately serve outstanding bench warrants
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
MEDIA STATEMENT
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary
Monday February 3rd 2020
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POLICE Commissioner David Manning will be directing all police officers throughout the nation to serve all unattended National and Supreme Court bench warrants immediately.
Commissioner Manning made this undertaking at the opening of the legal year 2020 in Port Moresby.
Mr Manning said, “According to the court records presented by the Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea Sir Gibbs Salika a total of 5,927 National Court and 128 Supreme Court bench warrants are yet to be executed by the Police nationwide.
“This is a massive number of active bench warrants and Police officers are on the brink of being charged for contempt. We are a disciplined organization bound to follow orders and those legal orders must be taken seriously and acted upon.
“I want all commanders to act immediately and serve the bench warrants without further delay. This is the beginning of a new legal year and I want the Constabulary to clear all outstanding cases and start fresh. From our past records it shows that we really need to pull up our socks.”
However, he also highlighted that part of the reason for the none execution of the warrants was due to limited resources and funding to police coupled with the difficult and challenging terrain and lack of proper infrastructure nationwide.
“I understand that transportation and accommodation remains the biggest challenges for police. However, that being said, I will be looking into this to ensure these back logs of bench warrants are effetely served. Any challenges or obstacle’s faced in serving must be brought before the responsible courts and or the Police hierarchy as soon as possible to seek other options,” Mr Manning said.
He also urged the provincial authorities to work in partnership with the Law and Justice Sector to support police officers to serve outstanding bench warrants. He said fighting crime is everyone’s business and Police needs a helping hand from the public as well other authorities in the society in carrying out its constitutional duties.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika officially opened the Legal Year this morning at a ceremony held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Port Moresby. Sir Gibbs committed the Police, the Correctional Services and the legal fratenity including the Judiciary to God. He also urged all members of the law and justice sector to pull up their socks and be smart in serving the nation.
“This is a very significant event today. We are here to commit our services to the Lord Almighty. It has been a tradition and this year is no exception. I want us to reaffirm our commitment to this country and take on the challenges of 2020 in good faith,” the Chief Justice said.
David Manning, MBE, DPS, QPM
Commissioner of Police
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This is a good start by the legal fraternity and the commissioner of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. I personally don’t think it’s the job of the Commissioner to remind commissioned officers to do what is already their constitutional duties.
I guess Police, Policing the societies and ensuring the rule of law exist will surely benefit everyone including themselves. Some or if not most of these bench warrants are probably related to many fraudulent cases still pending probably involving millions and millions of Kina. Unless RPNGC swiftly execute the bench warrant without fear or favor PNG people will still live poor including them.