Request a protection detail for Port Moresby
This page is about the people who provide close protection in Port Moresby: who they are, how they are vetted, and what credentials to verify before they deploy. Every operator in our Port Moresby network holds a current licence from the Security Industries Authority under the Security (Protection) Industry Act 2004, and is assessed for local competence given variability in operator standards. It covers standard team configuration, licence verification, and the credential checks a buyer should insist on.
The Raskol gang phenomenon, a network of loosely affiliated street gangs operating across Port Moresby’s informal settlement belt, is a documented feature of the city’s security landscape noted in both FCDO and OSAC reporting. These groups are opportunistic and target perceived wealth, making foreign business travellers with predictable routines, visible equipment, and unfamiliarity with the environment a higher-risk profile. Kidnapping incidents involving foreign nationals have been recorded and tend to follow periods of predictable movement, making route variation and low-profile travel disciplines particularly important.
Close protection officers working in Port Moresby must combine personal protection skills with a detailed working knowledge of the city’s geography, gang territories, and police liaison channels. The Security (Protection) Industry Act 2004 provides the licensing framework for commercial security in PNG, administered by the PNG Police Force. Clients commissioning security support should confirm operator licensing status before any deployment commences, and should treat the security briefing on arrival as an essential operational step rather than a formality.
For further information on the city environment, see our Port Moresby city guide. Executive-level security packages are outlined on the bodyguard hire Port Moresby page.
To arrange short-term cover for a specific trip, see bodyguard hire in Port Moresby. For organisational, duty-of-care protection around a corporate visit, see executive protection in Port Moresby.
What does this cover in Port Moresby?
Regulatory Framework and Licensing
Commercial security personnel in Papua New Guinea operate under the Security (Protection) Industry Act 2004, administered by the Security Industries Authority. All close protection officers must hold a valid security licence issued under this Act before undertaking any guarding or escort duties. Our provider network engages only fully licensed PNG-registered operators, verified with the Security Industries Authority prior to deployment. Clients visiting on temporary assignments should note that foreign-national security personnel working commercially in PNG must also satisfy PNG immigration work authorisation requirements.
Threat Assessment: Port Moresby
Port Moresby consistently records one of the highest violent crime rates in the Pacific region. Raskol gang networks operate across settlements adjacent to the CBD, Waigani, and Gordons, with carjacking incidents concentrated on arterial routes between the airport and the city centre. FCDO and US OSAC advisories both note that kidnapping for ransom has affected foreign nationals, particularly those perceived to have business wealth. Civil unrest events, including politically motivated demonstrations, can escalate rapidly in Waigani near government facilities. Business travellers should treat public transport as high risk and avoid displaying laptops, cameras, or premium mobile devices at any time.
Airport and Transit Security
Jacksons International Airport (POM) sits approximately 9 kilometres from the CBD via the Hubert Murray Highway, a route that FCDO travel advice consistently identifies as a higher-risk corridor, particularly after dark. Close protection teams meet clients airside where airline agreements permit, coordinate with airport police liaison officers, and use vetted vehicle and driver combinations for the transfer leg. Route planning accounts for known stop-and-rob locations and is reviewed before each movement. Clients should avoid kerb-side waiting at the terminal and accept officer guidance on vehicle positioning throughout.
Residential and Hotel Security
Acceptable accommodation in Port Moresby is largely confined to a small number of security-conscious properties in Harbour City and the Ela Beach corridor, several of which operate their own guard forces. Close protection teams conduct a hotel security assessment on arrival, verify room allocation practices, and establish primary and secondary evacuation routes. For extended assignments, residential security surveys covering perimeter integrity, access control, and domestic staff vetting protocols are available on request. The PNG Police Force can be contacted through hotel security desks for incident reporting, though response times outside the Waigani precinct can be lengthy.
Corporate and Meeting Venue Coverage
Business meetings in Port Moresby typically occur in the CBD (Town area), Waigani government precinct, or the Gordons commercial zone. Close protection officers provide close escort between the vehicle and the venue entrance, conduct advance checks of meeting rooms where time permits, and maintain a static presence in reception areas during sensitive discussions. Officers brief clients on duress signals and exit options before each appointment. For multi-day programmes, a day-by-day movement matrix is prepared in advance and shared with clients via secure channel.
Emergency Response and Evacuation Planning
Emergency medical capacity in Port Moresby is limited; Port Moresby General Hospital handles serious trauma but equipment and specialist capacity fall below regional standards documented in OSAC reporting. Close protection teams carry trauma first aid equipment and maintain standing contacts with international medical evacuation providers, including Pacific SOS and international air ambulance networks. In the event of civil unrest or a declared threat, teams operate pre-planned extraction routes to the airport or to designated warden assembly points as advised by the Australian High Commission or British High Commission duty officer.
Sources for this page
Licensing, firearms and foreign-operator rules for Port Moresby, checked : Security (Protection) Industry Act 2004, PacLII. The full rules are on our Port Moresby security overview.
Travel advice quoted on this page: FCDO travel advice: Papua New Guinea. Advice changes; read the current version before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What licensing do close protection officers need to work legally in Papua New Guinea?
How serious is the kidnapping risk for business visitors to Port Moresby?
Is the route between Jacksons International Airport and the city centre safe to use without security?
Which areas of Port Moresby are safest for business meetings and accommodation?
Can close protection officers assist with medical emergencies in Port Moresby?
This page is published by CloseProtectionHire.com and written to editorial standards overseen by James Calloway, Senior Security Consultant (regulation, licensing, vetting and risk frameworks) and Marcus Webb, Security Operations Adviser (operational close protection, secure transport and city-specific safety).
Threat, regulatory and emergency information is sourced to named, dated authorities such as the FCDO, the US State Department and national licensing bodies. Last updated . See how we verify.