Viral beating video prompts police probe in PNG

8:11 pm on 8 August 2018

Papua New Guinea's police chief has ordered an investigation into a police beating which was captured on film and viewed widely on social media.

A screenshot of a torture video which went viral in PNG in August 2018.

Photo: Supplied

The Post Courier reported police investigations had started into the assault and battery of a 16 year old boy in West New Britain Province.

According to the newspaper, the Police Commissioner Gari Baki said the two officers seen in the video were from an operational team sent into the province to support the police on the ground.

Amnesty International Pacific researcher Roshika Deo viewed the video and said it was very violent and the boy looked to be in great distress.

She said the person beating the boy with a stick was in uniform.

She said a full government probe was needed.

"It is a widespread issue in PNG. One of the things that we also have to be aware of is that there is a high culture of impunity around police brutality and violence.

"We're calling on the government to do an investigation and to hold the people that are involved accountable."