Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

PNG Cabinet to pursue gun buyback to curb crime

Posted at 03:52 on 23 June, 2008 UTC

The Papua New Guinea Police Minister, Sani Rambi, says his Government is planning a nationwide gun buyback scheme as part of efforts to reduce crime.

He says too many illegal guns are in the hands of the wrong people.

Mr Rambi told the Post Courier newspaper he is weighing up on the issue of time and cost to attack the root cause of an upsurge in organised crime.

The paper quotes the Minister saying he is for the idea of buying back guns from people who illegally possess them.

A gun buyback is one of 161 recommendations made by a recent Guns Committee report.