Papua New Guinea: Law Enforcement Workforce and Democratic Governance
Papua New Guinea's January 2024 police and public servant riot — triggered by a 50% wage reduction — was not an isolated incident. It was the documented consequence of a law enforcement workforce that is chronically underpaid, structurally under-resourced, and operating under the same compensation-cost-of-living framework gaps ISPI has documented across island law enforcement agencies worldwide. As the Pacific Policing Initiative positions Australia and the United States as PNG's primary security partners, ISPI's practitioner-grounded research provides the independent evidence base that program design requires.
Where ISPI's research applies
ISPI's practitioner-led research addresses six specific public safety and security policy gaps documented in this location — gaps that continental frameworks were not designed to close.
Published research directly applicable to this location
All ISPI research is available at no cost. Download any document and use it in policy work, grant applications, or institutional planning without restriction.
Commission ISPI for location-specific research
Australian DFAT Pacific Policing Initiative, U.S. State Department INL Pacific programs, and PNG government agencies are invited to commission island-specific law enforcement and governance research from ISPI.
Commissioned research from $4,500 · Policy briefs from $8,500 · Reduced rates for Pacific Island governments and small nonprofits
Commission Research →Hotels, ports, hospitals, universities, and corporations operating in this location are eligible for ISPI's Island-Resilient Certification — a practitioner-led security certification built for island operating environments.
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