The Guyana Police Force has responded to an article published in the Kaieteur News yesterday , under the caption “I never received any file from the police – DPP”. The article dealt with a matter of an allegation of sexual assault. The newspaper reportedly contacted the police at the Ruimveldt Police Station who are alleged to have informed them that the file in the matter was with the DPP for advice.
A statement from the Police yesterday said , “The Guyana Police Force wishes to express its concern at the irresponsible approach of the Kaieteur Newspaper in allegedly contacting and quoting a junior rank of the Force in relation to information concerning a matter under investigation by the police in this instance, a junior rank whom the newspaper has not named but who apparently clearly does not understand the processes involved in getting a file to the DPP for legal advice to be given”.
“The Guyana Police Force has on several occasions informed media operatives that there are specific officers in the Force Administration, in addition to the Commissioner of Police, who are authorised to interact with the media on police matters and from whom members of the media should seek their information when necessary.
“These Officers are the Public Relations and Press Officer, the Assistant Commissioner ‘Law Enforcement’ on matters relating to crime, and the Traffic Officer on matters concerning traffic.
“Police ranks at stations are not authorised to give information to the media on police matters, and whatever may be gleaned from them by whatever means ought not to and cannot be considered as an official position of the Guyana Police Force on the particular issue, the statement said.