Sweep team unconstitutional
IS the Task Force Sweep a police force established under the Constitution? The only established police force by the Constitution is the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). As a former detective and provincial commander and now a lawyer, I am qualified to make this statement. In previous cases, the former Mataguan Association established a police force in East New Britain and those associated with the organisation were charged with establishing an illegal police force. The practice is that no police constable is subjected to any direction from any member of the RPNGC including the police commissioner, in any investigation. Likewise, the investigating officer who is the arresting officer is not subjected to any direction by anyone, including the police commissioner. Here we have a civilian lawyer performing the task of a police constable. He is not sworn in as a member of the RPNGC and does not have the power to arrest or investigate any crime. The only power of arrest vested i