Pacific / Papua New Guinea

1,600 PNG police complaints received in seven year period

13:20 pm on 11 January 2016

More than 1,600 complaints of police abuse were received by the force in Papua New Guinea between 2007 and 2014.

The Post Courier reports that the Police Commissioner Gari Baki released the figures, declaring 2016 as the year to discipline his officers amid growing concerns over police brutality.

Mr Baki says of the 1,600 cases, 326 were classified as criminal cases.

Papua New Guinea police officers marching in a parade Photo: Supplied

During the same period, 134 police were demoted, 417 monetary fines were imposed and 202 officers were cleared because of a lack of evidence.

Mr Baki says in 2014 alone, 173 cases were investigated resulting in 20 officers being charged and referred to the courts.

More than 600 dismissals were recommended between 2007 and 2014 but only 274 dismissals were recorded because many of the cases were reviewed or challenged in court.

The latest high profile case has seen a police woman arrested over the weekend for her part in a video showing police officers forcing a young woman to swallow condoms.

Two male officers were also implicated but have yet to be arrested.