SENIOR Superintendent of Police and Divisional Detective of ‘A’ Division Reshi Dass during a recent engagement with ranks of the division cautioned them very sternly against physically assaulting members of the public.

“Ensure that you bring the people’s children, question them and do not torture them. If you torture them and you get off, you will face the law in other countries, once you go there, because torture is unacceptable throughout the world,” Dass told police ranks.
The senior police rank also mentioned the zero-tolerance approach of the present government to the issue of torture, citing statements recently made by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.
Senior Superintendent Dass reminded the junior ranks that there are ways of getting information out of members of the public without resorting to the use of force and inhumane practices. He spoke specifically to methods of conducting interviews and interactions with the persons who are held by the police for questioning.
The crime officer also reminded the ranks about holding persons in the lockups for minor offences, when they can be placed on station bail as investigations continue. He spoke of the need to hold persons in custody if the offences are indictable, but in such cases the matters must be brought to the Divisional Crime Officer who will in turn inform commander of the division.
He also echoed statements made by Commander Hicken against police officers turning persons away from police stations, because an investigating rank may be absent at the time a civilian shows up to make a report.
“Take the people’s statements, because if you do not and something should happen or go wrong you will find yourself in trouble; all reports must be entertained,” he added.He cautioned too against the practice of police ranks moving to settle matters between aggrieved parties.
Also in focus was the issue of police ranks who show up to give evidence in court or appear to be heading to the court to provide evidence in matters, but in some cases do not attend court.
According to Mr. Dass,the practice is unlawful, and management of the Police ‘A’ Division has now implemented systems to address same.
There are now diaries at the respective police stations as well as the courts, which ranks detailed for court will have to sign before leaving; and once they arrive at court they are expected to report to the prosecutor and also sign into a diary there to prove that they did show up for court. In the past, ranks would leave for court and then are never spotted for the remainder of the day.
“We are looking at ranks attending court, and the amount of time we are attending court as well as the time we are losing on the spot in the division. Sometimes we have a lot of people going to court at the same time; and to be frank with you, we do need the manpower on the ground to get the job done that we have to do,” Dass explained.
By Leroy Smith