Cops warn armed killers terrorising villagers in the Highlands
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Cops warn armed killers terrorising villagers in the Highlands
PORT MORESBY: Police Commissioner David Manning says
people carrying guns and other weapons are at high risk of being killed through
the legitimate used of force by disciplined forces personnel.
“The Government’s
intention for legislative amendments on offences and categories of assault
relating to officials involved in security and public administration would
provide a further deterrence to targeted attacks.
“The prime minister has
made it clear to gunmen and other criminals who choose to carry weapons to
cause fear and to harm other people, they will most likely b shot and die as a
result of their injuries,” he added.
The news break was reported by The National:
Armed crooks warned
December 19, 2022The
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Police commissioner David Manning says people
carrying guns and other weapons are at high risk of being killed through the
legitimate use of force by disciplined forces personnel.
He said the Government’s intention for legislative amendments on offences and
categories of assault relating to officials involved in security and public
administration would provide a further deterrence to targeted attacks.
“The prime minister has made it clear to gunmen and other criminals who choose
to carry weapons to cause fear and to harm other people, they will most likely
be shot and die as a result of their injuries,” Manning 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,” he
said.
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 interfere 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,” he said.
When it comes to violent crime using firearms, Manning said several laws had
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.”
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