Police and Correctional Service
The Kerowagi District has only one Police Station in the District located in the Kerowagi Urban LLG. There is also the Mobile Squad 8 based at Ganigle mainly to undertake National functions. The Kerowagi Police station has 32 regular and 32 auxiliary policemen and women. Most of the regular policemen and women have long past their working ages. Of the 32 regular officers, only 6 are young officers who are in their early 30s while the rest are 50 years old and above. The reservists have not been paid for over two years while the support staff has never received pay since employed. The cell lock-ups, toilets and water supply including power have been disconnected.
There is no police vehicle, communication systems, uniforms and firearms are inadequate, with constant shortages of stationeries and office equipment. The Kerowagi Police Barracks is in
a very rundown state without water supply and sanitation services. It has deteriorated very badly over the years due to a lack of maintenance. In almost all the two-bedroom rundown
houses two families are sharing and living together.
It has become too difficult to enforce law and order effectively in a District of 114,510 people. Clearly, there are very critical capacity problems faced by police and other law enforcement agencies in the District, which then hinders them from undertaking their tasks successfully. The Baraw’agi Correctional Service exists in the District to undertake mainly the National functions. A Juvenile Detention Centre is also being built at the current CIS facilities. These two CIS facilities are under the responsibility of the National Government but provide correctional services to the District as well.
Village and District Courts in the District
Kerowagi District has 105 village court magistrates and two village court buildings/chambers established in the Gena Waugla LLG. There are 19 gazetted Village Courts however, most of them have never been working well over the years due to poor administration of the Village Court system. A number of things need to be done to improve the Village Court system standard to resolve conflicts amicably at the village level. Paring monthly wages and supplying uniforms for Village Court officials are some of the key areas that need to be addressed urgently.
The District Court has been opened recently after being closed for a very long period of time. Some cases which warrant the District Court intervention are transferred to Kundiawa for District Court hearing. Given such, there is an immediate need to adequately capacitate the District Court system with necessary infrastructures, facilities and staffing to administer the provision of this very important function.