I AM writing this letter so that the public, the Minister of Home Affairs and the newly appointed Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud can be aware of the unprofessional treatment that persons received at the Sparendaam Police Station, located at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

On Saturday 14th March, 2015, I visited the said police station, where one of my family members was arrested. Upon arriving I saw the officer that made the arrest was writing the statement; after that he told the individual to sign the document.

That’s where I became concerned, as I know the individual is semi-illiterate and the officer did not make any attempt to read the statement. He just instructed the person to sign. I intervene by saying to the individual “don’t sign until you read”. Upon saying this, an officer who was in casual clothing standing behind the counter where I was ask me who am I to say that. I told him I am the individual’s family and it is the law for him to read that statement before he signs it.
After I said that, the same individual who told me that he is the Corporal of the station, and whose name was given as ‘Benji’, said in an indignant manner: “Get out of the station”. I left and went outside where he came again and shouted: “Get out of the station”. My question is, where is the respect of a Police Corporal towards the people of this country? As an individual who studied Forensic Science at a senior level in this country I am familiar with the procedures that policemen should follow but I am beginning to wonder if these policemen are aware what code of conduct they should operate by.

As a juror in the High Court, these are the same policemen who would stand in the witness box and testify to the jury, prosecutors and judge that they read the caution statement to the individual before they place their signature.

I am calling on the relevant authorities and the newly appointed Commissioner of Police to investigate this matter of the said policeman’s behaviour towards myself. I remember the Commissioner when he was acting in that position, said he won’t tolerate “no rogue police officers”. Therefore I am looking forward for a response from the Commissioner regarding this matter and I am recommending (CCTV) cameras to be installed in every police station so the Commissioner can see the behaviour of the persons we put in charge to look after the security of this country. I will be writing the Ombudsman, Winston Moore, for further advice. I hope it’s not a next police harassment that gets sweep under the carpet.

SHIVRAJ RAGHUBAR