28 Feb 2009

PNG govt wants to boost Australian police numbers in hotspots

12:19 pm on 28 February 2009

The Papua New Guinea government wants to boost Australian police numbers in some of the country's toughest spots.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Enga province, the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, says his cabinet had discussed the need for more Australian police to help local forces.

The Enga Governor, Peter Ipatas, repeated his calls for more Australian police to be deployed in his province while urging the government to overlook past legal disputes over immunity issues.

Last year, 11 Australian police were deployed in advisory roles in the capital Port Moresby after the expensive failure of a previous detachment that started in late 2003.

The highly politicised Enhance Cooperation Program ended in 2005 when the deployment was ruled unconstitutional and 150 Australian police officer were made to leave.