THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) in a release on Saturday said it met on Friday with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leroy Brumell, and his senior officers to express the very serious concerns of the commission about the public allegations of grievous assault and an act of sodomy on Colwyn Harding by the Guyana Police Force.The PSC told the commissioner that, in the view of the commission, there has not been a satisfactory public response to these very serious allegations.

The commission further expressed its concern at the growing number of what appears to be legitimate complaints against the conduct of the Police Force in their resorting to the use of excessive force and violent behaviour towards citizens in the course of their investigations and during arrests.

The PSC pointed out to the commissioner that the credibility and public confidence in the Force is being dangerously eroded which, if not promptly, openly and fully addressed, would undermine the ability and competence of the Force to carry out its law enforcement responsibilities.

The PSC said it was heartened by the reception it received by the commissioner and his officers and with the open and frank discussions held with them.

The Commissioner of Police told the commission that he had directed his officers to carry out an immediate investigation on his receiving the report with regard to the allegations of assault on Mr. Harding and to take the necessary and appropriate action. He said that, as a consequence, the Office of Professional Responsibility is completing its investigation prior to transferring its report and recommendations to the Director of Public Prosecution.

However, given the seriousness of the alleged offences, and the widely reported coverage which has been given to them, the PSC said it believes that an independent inquiry should be ordered into the matter.

The PSC also raised the issue of deplorable state of most of the lock-ups at police stations and deemed the subjection of citizens to such conditions to be acts of violence against them. The commissioner acknowledged the complaint, noted his own concerns and undertook to have the matter urgently addressed. He, however, made the point that, at a number of locations, including Brickdam, where new facilities had been installed, they had been vandalised by persons held in the lock- ups.

The commissioner advised the PSC that he welcomed and appreciated the meeting and the views shared by the commission and agreed to meet with the commission on a regular quarterly basis.