– Says will not condone infractions
THE Executive of the Police Association is moving to address concerns over the recent plethora of incidents and infractions that have been allegedly committed by members of the Guyana Police Force.
A Press Release issued by the Police Public Relations office stated that incidents of alleged police brutality, use of excessive force, collusion and complicity in armed robbery involving errant policemen that were all ventilated in the print and electronic media will not be condoned by the Executive of the Police Association.
The release further declared that the Executive body of the Police Force wishes to categorically state that its members are not immune from citizens’ oversight while discharging their duties that are in keeping with the Police Force’s mandate as the country’s premier law enforcement organization.
According to the Release, the Executive does not and will not condone the actions of those members who are involved in any form of lawlessness and criminality and emphasizes that its members must continue to respect and protect human rights, such as the right to life and dignity of the individual; as well as the exercise of democratic freedoms, including freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention and impartiality in the administration of the law.
Towards this end, members of the Executive body of the Police Association have begun to visit ranks at Police Stations in the various Police Divisions, where they are stressing the importance of professionalism, discipline, adherence to principles guiding human rights, the use of force, the rights of the child, as well as the commitment to Constitutional and moral values for mutual respect in the provision of service to the communities.
In addition, the Release states that the Association believes that any violation should be met with the appropriate sanction, once the member concerned has been found culpable after due process, and is supportive of the efforts of the Administration of the Force to curb such behaviour by dealing condignly with errant ranks.
The Executive is calling on its members who continue to perform in keeping with their Oath of Office, ensuring the preservation of Law and Order, while effectively recording successes in the fight against crime, to continue to incorporate and demonstrate ethical competence in the discharge of their duties.
Urging ranks not to succumb to any form of de-motivational arguments and/or actions that will precipitate unacceptable behaviour and injure the reputation of the Force, the Association is also encouraging ranks to hold fast to a clear and unambiguous adherence to the law on the use of force and police abuse, advising that these principles are to be embraced and reinforced.
Finally, the Police Association says that improved performance by members of the Force will boost and propel a more positive image of the nation’s premier law enforcement body, which will consequently encourage more active involvement in the fight against crime and more co-operation with the Police by members of civil society.