The Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary as it was known resulted from the amalgamation in 1942 of the Royal Papua Constabulary and the New Guinea Police Force.The Royal Papua Constabulary originated in1891when the first Police Force in the Territory of Papua was formed by the Lieutenant Governor Sir William Macgregor.The Force was then know British armed Constabulary and in its initial stages consisted of twelve Solomon’s islanders with two Fijian commissioned officers.In the first years thirteen Papuans were recruited against much opposition by local residents who considered the local inhabitants far too primitive to be suited for that form of employment.At the outset the Armed Constabulary was used primarily for escorting patrols and duties involving the extension of Government influence.With the development of towns and gold mining actives, however , it naturally evolved that members were required to perform actual police duties and in fact, were showing aptitude for them.Over the years more and more Papuans were recruited into the force, until, 1898 there were 110 members. By 1912 the strength was increased to 250 and by 1939 there were 300 Papuan’s in the Armed Constabulary. There uniform was very similar to the traditional sulu and jumper which was only discarded in 30^th September 1964 The RPC was known for the historic use of Police Motu, a lingua franca pidgin variant of the Motu language. During the colonial period, personnel needed to effectively administer the colony were scarce, so the colonial government recruited constables from the various Papua New Guinean peoples and nearby islands such as Fiji and the Solomon Islands. These recruits may have spoken any of about 700–800 different indigenous languages. To aid in communication, a common language was needed and the Police Motu pidgin arose. In recognition of the long and meritorious of the indigenous Police service of the Government His Majesty King George V1 in 1939 assented to the prefix “Royal” being granted to the Force which them became known as the the Royal Papua Constabulary.

In New Guinea shortly before 1914, the German Administration had a police force of a complement of approximately 1.000 New Guinea Locals.The German force was trained by regular Army officers at Rabaul (which was the German Administration HQ) and its function consisted mainly of taking punitive action against tribes which either attacked their administration or resisted their expansion. The dress of the members of the German New Guinea Police Force was a blue serrated lap-lap with a white belt and a white sailor type hat. The New Guinea Police Force was taken over by The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) from the German Administration in 1914 with the defeat on the Germans at the Battle of Bita Paka on New Britain known in the German as Neu-Pommern as part Kaiser-Wilhelmsland.

In 1921 the New Guinea Police Force was reorganized upon the commencement of the activities of the Australian Civil Administration. It was not until1930 that a modern Police Force was established in the territory of New Guinea by Colonel J Walstad DSO who became its Superintendent

In 1942 with the invasion of the Territories of Papua and New Guinea by the Japanese, the Royal Papua Constabulary and the New Guinea Police Force combined on a war time basis to form one service under the Banner of the Australian administration unit. During the war against Japan the Police expanded to a strength of around 2,900 and played an outstanding and valiant role during the campaign, Their duties of the time were Coast Watching fighting patrols, scouts and spies. As the war ended and Hostilities ceased the Force resumed its peace time activities under a combined Administration and the Queen, one of her first Acts was to bestow the prefix “Royal” on the now combined Constabulary Which is Now, The Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary.

The Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary (R P & N G C ) is a member of a distinguished and select company of worldwide Commonwealth Police forces, the list is as Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The Royal Ulster Constabulary, (the former the Royal Hong Kong Police Force 1997)

ROYAL PAPUAN CONSTABULARY

As the plane comes In to land at Fort Moresby one of the first sight is the native policeman. Is in Introduction to a picturesque and well trained force.It was my privilege to see them parade before the Administrator of Australia General Sir John Northcott when he made a short visit to the territory. Attached to the force Is a band, and its slow marching, quick step and diagram marching were equal to those bands on the mainland. The guard of honour provided for Sir John moved in a manner emulating the movements of a Guards regiment. At So geri Sir John Inspected about 500 police recruits and he was pleased with the efficiency of the force.That their training is based on tbat given to the Brigade of Guards is natural as the force is commanded by a commissioner who is an ex-member of the Coldstream Guards Colonel J. 8. Grimshaw), and the training at the Sogerl Police depot is controlled by Inspector A. Sinclair, who was an officer in the Scots Guards.Glad in black sulus and jackets lined with a red stripe and wearing a red cummerbund the force on parade is a colourful spectacle. They wear webbing belts and a Sdearms, and handcuff chains, brightly polished, hang from the centre of the body and the back.

POLICE BAND

The efficiency and discipline of the police band is a tribute tc the patience and assiduity of Inspector J. Crawley, who many years ago . struggled against adversity to establish the band. Pessimism dogged his every move, but his own optimism never faltered and in 1838 the band was formed. The going was hard. Many boys dropped out after a few lessons and there was the constant difficulty of enlisting new personnel. Inspector Crawley persevered and today he has a band which Is ft credit to him. At every puddle function in Port Moresby the band Is present Band practice is a dally routine. Inspector Crawley's ambition Is to have a tend equal in efficiency to mainland bands. That he is on the way to success can be Judged from the results of the theory exam inations of the London Trinity College of Music. A few months ago a number of mem bers were submitted for the examination, which was held under the direction of the Education Department of Papua-N.G,The results were excellent. Four entered in the advanced intermediate division and all passed, two with honours. Two passed with honours in Hie intermediate division and two out of three gained honours in the advanced Junior division. Twesity-four passed in the Jun ior division, 16 gained honours (one with 100 marks) and the remaining eight were awarded merits. Inspector Crawley la an ex-soldier having served with the 12th Lancers.

TRAFFIC WORK

The control of traffic 'is an important aspect of police work in Port Moresby. Training is carried out in that city and it is very exacting. At Fort Moresby's busy crossing the policeman stands on a three foot square box, painted yel low, with the word "Police" in blade on its sides. The police man wears long white sleeves.There is no slovenliness in their work. They move and give signs with all the dexterity and uniformity that one sees in any Australian city.Though registration of motor vehicles was in operation in New Guinea it did not operate In Papua until August 1, 1951 Up till the end of October 70o vehicles were registered and 300 had not completed registration papers.