Monthly Summary Statistics and Reports on Crime Trends of the Law & Justice Sector throughout Papua New Guinea as reported by The National and Post Courier.

A woman is beaten every 30 seconds in Papua New Guinea

1 in every 3 women has experienced physical or sexual violence

81% of beatings and domestics violence reported in 2020 were caused by husbands and partners

In 2020, 15,444 cases were reported with only 1.6% prosecuted and less than 0.6% convicted

Category Date Headline Summary Location Responsible Agency Source
DEPARTMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS
Dept. Justice & Attorney General August 5, 2022   O’Neill seeks legal action The rights of at least 3.8 million citizens and hundreds of candidates have been denied by the willful actions of a power-hunger few men, says former prime minister, Member for Ialibu-Pangia and leader of the People’s National Congress Party, Peter O’Neill.   SHP GoPNG;   POLICE Post Courier
  August 23, 2022   Dr. Kwa: K10b saved in funds BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA Private lawyers who appear for government departments without the permission of the Department of Justice and Attorney General will be fined half a million kina. NCD Parliament Haus THE NATIONAL COURT; DJAG Post Courier
NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS RELATED CRIME
Bribery & Biases Political Interests August 5, 2022   Mass arrest in Walium  BY JOAN BAILEY Three candidates were amongst 211 men arrested by security personnel at Walium station following a fight that broke out between candidates, scrutineers and their supporters. Madang Police; EC; National Courts; DJAG Post Courier
August 8, 2022   Bribery rife in Bougainville elections, says Momis A LOSING candidate of the Bougainville regional seat John Momis (pictured) has lashed out at corrupt practices during the 2022 National General Election in Bougainville. Bougainville Post Courier
August 15, 2022   Youths block off road in Pangia BY KOLOPU WAIMA YOUTHS believed to be supporters of two major political parties blocked off the road in Pangia, Southern Highlands province, last week. SHP Post Courier
August 15, 2022   Candidate arrested for misbehaving BY SYLVESTER WEMURU Madang police have arrested and charged a candidate contesting the Madang Regional seat, for misbehaving at the counting area, Jim Kas was arrested last Friday 12 August Madang Post Courier
Arson August 17, 2022   Ballot boxes with papers found   DISGRUNTLED supporters of former Mul Baiyer MP Koi Trappe were taken by surprise to find three ballot boxes containing ballot papers in the ruins of a house belonging to an election official that was burnt down last week. WHP Post Courier
August 19, 2022   PM condemns burning of ballot boxes PRIME MINISTER James Marape has condemned the burning of ballot boxes in the Mendi Police Station in Southern Highlands Province in the early hours of yesterday morning and described the action as “constitutional terrorists” who would be hunted down by the full force of the law. Mendi-SHP Post Courier
CRIME & VIOLENCE
Murder and Arson August 8, 2022   Sabama fighting stopped by police NCD Police responded swiftly and quelled a nasty clash between two warring factions at Sabama today NCD NCDC; Police PNG Haus Bung
August 15, 2022   Four Arrested for murder and arson BY NIGEL FRANCIS MADO 4 from 7 suspects were apprehended by police in East New Britain over the weekend after the murder/arson incident which led to the death of a person in the Valahur area of the province ENB Police PNG Haus Bung
August 15, 2022   Two deaths in a Lovers’ quarrel By MIRIAM ZARRIGA A SUNDAY lovers’ quarrel has led to two men dying for the woman they both loved and allegedly shared. NCD Post Courier
Drug Smuggling August 30, 2022   Policeman arrested for drug smuggling THREE policemen are among six people arrested and held police custody at the Kerema police station after been caught with a large quantity of marijuana destined for Port Moresby. EHP Police; NNB; DJAG Post Courier
Drug Smuggling August 30, 2022   Policeman arrested for drug smuggling THREE policemen are among six people arrested and held police custody at the Kerema police station after been caught with a large quantity of marijuana destined for Port Moresby. EHP POLICE; DJAG Post Courier
Asslt/Stabbing August 18, 2022   Three wounded three dead in daring escape By MIRIAM ZARRIGA POLICE in Alotau, Milne Bay Province, are hunting for five men who escaped from the police prison truck near the Gurney Estate, after stabbing three police officers. MBP POLICE; CS   Post Courier
Assault August 30, 2022   Woman Apprehended Over Physical Assault of Two Girls By MIRIAM ZARRIGA POLICE Commissioner David Manning says that a woman who handed over two girls to be physically assaulted by two men over a theft at a canteen has been apprehended by police late yesterday afternoon.   NCD POLICE;   JUVENILE; JUSTICE   Post Courier
Arson August 9, 2022   Homes and Properties Lost During Gun Battle BY NELSON JOE A TRADE store with an asset value of K50,000, a tucker shop with K10,000 worth of stock and a shed with more than K50,000 worth of building materials went up in flames along with three family houses and a campaign house during a gun battle between security personnel and supporters of candidates for Eastern Highlands regional seat last Friday in Goroka. EHP POLICE; EC Post Courier
August 30, 2022 Families homeless after fire SEVEN families are homeless after their homes were destroyed in a fire over the weekend. NCD POLICE Post Courier
August 29, 2022   Businesses to ashes after declaration BY MIRIAM ZARRIGA ARMED men have destroyed business assets worth millions of kina in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, allegedly after the declaration of the Southern Highlands Provincial seat was made last Thursday. SHP Mendi Dept. COMMERCE; EC; POLICE Post Courier
Ethnic Clash August 9, 2022   Fighting continues at Lae’s backroad The election related fighting between two ethnic groups at Lae’s backroad continued this morning with the burning of five houses Morobe POLICE LOOP PNG
August 31, 2022   Ethnic clash still ongoing among settlers in Morobe More than 3,000 people have fled for their safeties while properties worth hundreds of thousands have been burnt down to ashes at Back Road in Lae, Morobe Province. Morobe PNG Haus Bung
Car Accidents August 11, 2022   Man dies after driving into fallen three in Jiwaka BY MAL TAIME A DRIVER of a vehicle died instantly in a fatal road accident in Jiwaka Province on Tuesday night. Jiwaka POLICE ROAD TRAFFIC   Post Courier
August 19, 2022   Search to sit for exam land students in hospital BY PHOEBE GWANGILO THE cost in lives in Enga’s volatile Porgera Valley has spread from tribal fights to rob schools of their students. Porgera EDUCATION; HEALTH; POLICE Post Courier
Ambulance August 11, 2022   Sixth attack on St John Ambulance Crew This year FIGHTS related to political changes has put lives of St John Ambulance staff at risk. NCD Central POLICE; HEALTH Post Courier
SRAV August 24, 2022   Is there justice for these hands? SHE held her hands out for me to take this picture and said: “You must tell our stories so people know what happened to us and that we are not Sangumas. We are simple women who work in our gardens and cook and clean. Enga POLICE; DfCDR Post Courier
REPEATED / FOLLOW UP NEWS
August Court denies bail for 40 accused The bail application for the forty accused of the Pire incident, New Ireland Province was denied by the Kavieng district court yesterday) August 10th).   NIP DISTRICT COURT; NATIONAL COURT; POLICE LOOP PNG
August 16, 2022   Inquiry into teenager’s death begins BY GRACE AUKA-SALMANG A WEEK-LONG coronial inquiry for late Rex Wanzing begun yesterday in Port Moresby. NCD POLICE; HEALTH Post Courier
August 18, 2022   Machete attack victims assist police BY MARJORIE FINKEO THE victims of the machete attacks allegedly carried out by a group outside the counting venue at the Sir John Guise Stadium, in Port Moresby, last month are now assisting police to have nine suspects re-arrested. NCD EC; POLICE Post Courier
August 18, 2022   Kramer to face leadership tribunal BY TODAGIA KELOLA A LEADERSHIP Tribunal has been appointed to enquire into allegations of misconduct by the Member for Madang Bryan Kramer. Madang NCD THE NATIONAL COURT; DJAG; POLICE Post Courier
August 18, 2022   Doctors set to appear in court GRACE AUKA-SALMANG FIFTEEN doctors from the Port Moresby General Hospital are expected to give their witness statements in the inquiry, together with the late Wanzing’s parents Benjamin and Raela. NCD   HEALTH Post Courier
August 25, 2022   Probe into K106 million THE investigation into the K1.06 million in a suitcase is “necessary and essential and entails issues of integrity of the office of the Prime Minister,” says a senior police officer. Hela   Komo POLICE; THE NATIONAL COURT Post Courier
PREVENTIONS & WARNININGS
August 12, 2022     Women encouraged to report violence BY GRACE LIMA WOMEN in rural communities and working class of East New Britain Province have been encouraged to speak out if they are facing any form of violence. ENB Post Courier
August 17, 2022   A non-violent sorcery court BY MARJORIE FINKEO THE Nepu Bakai means Sorcery Court. It is a judicial system introduced in Kivori village, Kairuki District, Central Province. Central NCD Post Courier
August 18, 2022   Delay tactic in SHP counting damaging THE candidates for the Southern Highlands regional seats are serving personal interest and not the interest of the people, Provincial Police Commander acting Chief Superintendent Daniel Yangen said. SHP Post Courier
August 18, 2022   City must observe rule of law BY CLAUDIA TALLY DEPUTY Prime Minister John Rosso has condemned the recent sporadic acts of violence that have erupted throughout the National Capital District noting that the country’s capital is no place for violence. Morobe NCD Police Post Courier
SECTOR AGENCIES UPDATES
Abandoned Aid-Post August 17, 2022   Abandoned aid-post leaves 7000 plus struggling for basic health care A FULLY-KITTED aid post facility housed within a permanent building and a two-bedroom kit home for a health worker has been abandoned 14 years ago and still stands idle today in a rural district of Morobe Province. Morobe   HEALTH Post Courier
Road Works August 16, 2022   Second phase of road works starts THE second phase of the Koura Way and Waigani Drive Intersection Road works commenced yesterday in the nation’s capital and construction is expected to go on for the next three months. Waigani Dept. Works; INFRASTRUCTURE Post Courier
School Funds August 16, 2022   No government funding for schools that remained closed: Secretary Kombra Schools who have been suspended without a valid reason will not receive government tuition fee payment or will be exempted from national examinations and assessment, Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra says.   Nation Wide   EDUCATION   PNG Facts
  August 18, 2022   Court restrains police from interfering with NCD regional counting The Police Commander in-charge of NCD election operations Martin Kelei and NCD Metropolitan Police Commander Gideon Ikumu have been restrained from interfering with the Counting of the NCD Regional seat. NCD POLICE; THE NATIONAL COURT; EC Post Courier
Viral Videos August 30, 2022   Viral video exposes city health risks A COUPLE caught washing plastic containers used to fetch water for sale in what looked to be contaminated water in Port Moresby have been arrested by the National Capital District Commission police. NCD HEALTH; POLICE Post Courier
PUBLIC CONCERNS
  Tucker Shops August 9, 2022   Kaeyo: Tucker shops must not hinder fire hydrants BY PHOEBE GWANGILO THE PNG Fire Service deputy chief executive officer Jennifer Kaeyo has urged city residents not to build tucker shops over the fire hydrants.   NCD Post Courier
Gov’t’s Mystery Trips August 17, 2022   Mystery trip is improper at this time   THE EVANGELICAL Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) head bishop has expressed his disappointment and concern over the recent mysterious trip overseas by the Prime Minister and senior government officials.   Post Courier
Law and Order Concern August 16, 2022   Public in Mt Hagen concern about law and order in the city BY PNG Haus Bung One of the major concerns frequently raised by the general public in Mt Hagen city is the weak law and order situation WHP Police PNG Haus Bung
  Missing Examinations August 18, 2022   Tangui concerned of grade 12 students missing their exams BY JOAN BAILEY THE Morobe provincial education adviser Keith Tangui has expressed concern on Grade 12 students missing out on their Written Expression Examinations. Morobe EDUCATION Post Courier

Papua New Guinea Ranking in the Global Crime Index

Ranking: 2

Crime Index: 80.79

Source: World Population Review

Overall crime rate is calculated by dividing the total number of reported crimes of any kind by the total population, then multiplying the result by 100,000 (because crime rate is typically reported as X number of crimes per 100,000 people). Crime rates vary greatly from country to country and are influenced by many factors. For example, high poverty levels and unemployment tend to inflate a country’s crime rate. Conversely, strict police enforcement and severe sentences tend to reduce crime rates. There is also a strong correlation between age and crime, with most crimes, especially violent crimes, being committed by those ages 20-30 years old.

Countries with the Highest Crime Rates

The countries with the ten highest crime rates, expressed in per 100,000 people, globally are:

  1. Venezuela (83.76)
  2. Papua New Guinea (80.79)
  3. South Africa (76.86)
  4. Afghanistan (76.31)
  5. Honduras (74.54)
  6. Trinidad and Tobago (71.63)
  7. Guyana (68.74)
  8. El Salvador (67.79)
  9. Brazil (67.49)
  10. Jamaica (67.42)