“We need 26, 000 policemen and women.” “As per advice from the United Nations, it is estimated that at least 26, 000 police personnel are needed to curb crime in the country.” Prime Minister James Marape said this on the floor of parliament today after a meeting the PM had with his Deputy John Rosso and Police Commissioner David Manning this morning. “This morning Commissioner Manning informed me and the Deputy Prime Minister who was also part of this meeting that the United Nations has relayed to us the number of police officers needed in the country to curb lawlessness in the country is about 26, 000.” This is a huge number of officers needed and PM Marape added that given the last time systematic police recruitment took place was in 2008 and the latest was in 2017, there is a huge gap that needs to be filled. “The country has an aging police force that we are working to clean up.” “The first batch of police recruits will commence training now that selection has been completed.”