Police abuse

Chief Inspector Meleane Taueli's comments came after it was revealed nine officers had been suspended over the past year.

RNZI reports over the past five years 12 officers have been sacked for misconduct and five have been convicted of criminal offences.

Ms Taueli says there are currently 16 criminal investigations underway within the force and 38 inquiries into disciplinary matters.

She said her unit was working hard to improve discipline in the force.

The pair were taking part in a training exercise on Swan Island, south-east Australia, last week.

They used the vessel to reach Corsair Rock, a remote spot popular with surfers.

The officers have not been identified. No details have been given about the disciplinary measures.

The area off Point Nepean National Park is known for having some of the best waves in Victoria state. The place is hard to reach and surfers often travel by boat.

Solicitor General Faith Barton said payouts had been made since 1992.

This was revealed during her presentation at the annual Police Commissioners conference in Kimbe, West New Britain Province, yesterday.

On top of this, over 8600 cases of State Litigation are now registered with the Solicitor Generals’ office, of which 19 percent relate to police abuse.

She said due to the rise of public complaints against police, the Office of Solicitor General has formed a dedicated team tasked with the responsibility of attending to these cases.