Dili, Feb. 3, 2025 (Lusa) - The Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) on Monday stressed the need for the government to recruit new officers this year, with the aim of increasing the number of officers and improving service to the communities.
"We already have a plan and it is necessary to recruit new officers this year," said the PNTL's general commander, Superintendent Henrique da Costa, speaking to journalists at the general command in Dili. "There is a commitment from the government, through the Ministry of the Interior, to go ahead with this recruitment. I hope it materialises."
He explained that recruitment was need to increase the current number of PNTL officers and improve the quality of service to the population, emphasising that the police's human resources are insufficient.
"We currently have a total of 4,004 officers," he said.
According to da Costa, the government urgently needs to increase the number of officers, since part of the contingent is assigned to the border service, another part is part of the personal security teams of government entities, some officers are in training abroad and others are in the process of retirement.
"This year, we are proposing a recruitment drive to bring new energy to the police and guarantee continuity of service," he added.
The PNTL commander also recognised that some officers no longer have the same physical capacity as before, due to their advanced age, which limits their ability to fight crime in the field.
DPYF/ARO // ARO.
Lusa