Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Solomons police alarmed at PNG shoot-to-kill approach

Posted at 01:50 on 14 July, 2008 UTC

The acting police commissioner of Solomon Islands, Peter Marshall, has condemned the shoot-on-sight policy issued by Papua New Guinea police for people who commit crimes in police uniforms.

The acting commissioner says determining penalties for crimes was a job for the courts and not the police.

The police chief says he was surprised that a member of the Commonwealth should take such a stance in addressing crime-related issues.

The PNG police commissioner, Gari Baki, announced the measure after a robbery ten days ago in which criminals wearing police uniforms stole 800.000 US dollars from a bank in Madang.

Commissioner Baki says the uniform belongs to the Queen, and its reputation should not be tarnished by criminals.