Members of the general public who have grievances with the police, will soon have their matters dealt with in a more timely and transparent manner.
This, as for the next 30 months, the country undergoes a process of accreditation to the Regional Security System (RSS), that aims to completely transform, for the better, the way things are done in law enforcement.
Created out of the need for a collective response to security threats which were impacting the stability of the region in the late 70’s and 80’s, the system has the status of an international organization and enjoys legal personality, according to an RSS brochure.
“Traditionally we try to treat people as we feel like,” Deputy Executive Director and Accreditation Manager for the Regional Security System (RSS) Accreditation Board, Bertie Hinds, said recently at a sensitization session which was held at the conference room of the Police Headquarters.
“This (RSS) is now going to tell you that where there is a citizen’s complaint, against the police, it must be investigated by a senior police officer expeditiously and at all cost. Every thirty days, you must call or engage that complainant as to how the investigations are going,” he said, adding that there are always the exceptions of some “excellent officers” throughout the Caribbean region.
However, systems must be put in place to address the issue, Hinds stated.
“Put systems in place to see that individual; tell that citizen this is the progress that I am making or I have made. Is there else anything out there you can tell me in relation to this? There is a bottleneck in this investigation, can you tell me or have you heard anything else? So you interface with your citizens, so that brings confidence; it is a confidence builder.”
He added, “But no, some of us are arrogant. Complaints are made and you dismiss, two years, three years…you cannot do that to the public.”
Meanwhile Hinds said foreign investment and tourism are two other areas in which important benefits can be derived from being accredited.
He said it is open knowledge that Caribbean islands are tourism based economies and “we need the tourists to come” and providing a professional front would assist.
“When we are accredited, we can fly a flag that we are engaged in international best practices and that is a signal to would be visitors that we can go to any one of those countries and we know that we are in a safe place because police are approaching their jobs on the basis of best practices and they are efficient. So that is a plus, and that is something that we try to engender in the police force especially in Barbados.”
The mandate of the program is to provide regional police organizations with a body of professional and internationally recognized standards that formalizes essential management procedures, promotes efficient use of resources and improved service delivery.
RSS accreditation is a first step. Police investigating complaints against police – a bad idea.
It’s coming on two years since I have filed a complain against a number of policemen who visited my house to do a burglary and had derogative stuff to tell their friends. I heard it on the streets. Up to now, not one word re the investigation. I was called in to file a complaint with the promise from the deputy that such actions are unbecoming and needs to be addressed, yet no word from him or the force re the investigation. I just threw the case out of my brain as yet as the police force threw it out of the window.
This is a good start to officers conducting themselves professionally and boosting the morale of nationals toward them. It should also include general citizens’ complaints.
All in all the police must take their obligation seriously. They must also take the complaints seriously and investigate them; not caste them aside and throw them under the table. Most people have serious complaints. They want to be heard and something done about them.
To the public, be careful you do not waste the police time by false or vindictive complaints. You are liable to be arrested and charged.
In the future, you will have a better Dominica which will build citizen’s trust in the police force. Who knows? Due to this, criminal activities may be decreased, if not eradicated. I would love to hear of the latter which, in our times, may be wishful thinking. Nevertheless, I visualize Dominica will be a safer place to reside and to visit.
God bless your efforts.
Charity begins at home, do is say! but dont do as i do”. Jamaica citizen may not view situation the same. But we must pratice what we preached. That`s a atart.
A most timely and necessary initiative! I have always said that in this world there is only ONE standard: the International. You either have it or you don’t. I therefore expect and await the consequential improvements.
HOTEP!
That’s good, so certain villagers will stop calling the Commissioner everytime a policeman tries to do his job and the commissioner will stop entertaining those bias phone calls by pressing officers without investigation. The Commissioner will do his job properly and forward the complaints of the villagers to the proper channels before jumping to conclusions prematurely and taking uneducated decisions. We will then have a better police force and officers will perform better, leading to a better relationship with their villagers. Cant wait to see that happen.
Oh really!!!!
A few weeks ago I saw an off- duty policemen violate a young man’s rights at the NBD ATM, when the young man stood up for his rights, the policeman had him arrested…
TALK, TALK TALK
Hmmmmm!
that is why there are so many unsolved crimes its because more time is spent investigating the police and prosecuting them than investigating the ills of society. you see when there are certain criminals in society terrorizing the community there is no outcry, petitions and protests or candle light vigils to remove them, but if the police just pee on the side of the road they should be crucified! it should not be one sided