Rival elements of Papua New Guinea's police force are in open confrontation in Port Moresby this afternoon.

Papua New Guinea's top anti-corruption policeman has got a court order to stop the police commissioner from suspending him.

But officers loyal to the commissioner have locked down his office with chains and are not letting anyone near it.

The police are divided over the anti-corruption officers' recent arrests of senior government officials, and potential arrest of PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

Police are divided over the potential arrest of PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. ( AFP: Peter Parks )

Chief Superintendent Matthew Damaru was suspended on Saturday morning, purportedly for failing to report on the progress of an unrelated and unsanctioned investigation in the highlands province of Simbu.

Several other senior officers were also suspended, with one expected to be arrested and charged with official corruption and bribery offences.

PNG's Police Commissioner Gari Baki denied the suspensions were due to the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Squad's recent arrest of the PNG Attorney-General Ano Pala, Supreme Court judge Bernard Sakora and the Prime Minister's lawyer Tiffany Twivey Nonggorr.

All of them are involved in other cases relating to the anti-corruption officers' arrest warrant for the Prime Minister.

Mr Damaru's lawyer Greg Egan obtained a stay order in the PNG National Court to effectively allow his client to continue in his role and protect his prosecution files.

But when Mr Damaru returned to his headquarters, he found senior police there supervising the changing of the locks, with his own officers locked out.