The video interviewing techniques of police officers are expected to be enhanced, when several law enforcement officials take part in a course relating to the matter later this week.
Police Chief Daniel Carbon says the course is being held with cooperation from the British government.
According to Carbon, it will also help in capacity building within the police force.
“Recently … within the last two years, you have been hearing much talk about how we go about investigating and how we conduct our interviews,” he said.
The top cop said police interviews, especially as it relates to suspects, must be conducted at police stations and at the main headquarters.
He said interviews of suspects ought not to be conducted in private with them, “because we would be playing into the comfort of those people”.
Meantime Carbon said legislation to facilitate the work of the police is expected to be taken to parliament.
“I have no doubt that there will be legislation to support this initiative. Interviews must be conducted professionally, transparently and fairly. We all know if we undermine or not conduct our interviews properly it is very likely that there will be a problem at the trial,” he explained.
Video training techniques for police officers have already been implemented in some Caribbean islands.
There was a recent case on Judge Judy where a policeman was suing this man who said while the policeman was issuing him a ticket the police was rude, aggressive and called him stupid. The officer was cleared of any wrong doing after an internal hearing by his bosses but the case would be kept on the officer’s file, potentially ruining his promotion prospects so he was suing the man for damages. It turned out that the police are issued with a tape recorder which is switched on the moment someone is approached. When the tape was played in court it was obvious the man lied and exagerated as the police conducted himself very professionally throughout. After hearing the tape Judge Judy told the man he WAS stupid and awarded damages in the policeman’s favour. I think the tape idea is an excellent one and can protect parties on both sides.
GREAT STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
let’s see how receptive our police force is to 21st century methods of policing…
time will tell…. It always does.
Fartigue should be done while the video tape is off after, bring the suspect and let them spill the beans on tape. we have to be careful who takes the lead to train our officers. Why the British government does not open its training facilities to our police officers and train them in all aspect of police work. We have a few square pegs in the wrong hole in the police force.{No name No warrant.}I will say and most will agree there`s nothing more effective than a real fartige to those who deserve it. It`s not crazy that move might back fire instead of helping. Cause we always put the cart before the horse, remember, i told you so!
Providing the law is passed I wonder if nurse dyrample would not be able to re-open that case with her son on that dreadful carnival day since there was video footage by a certain television company plus another individual. In America cases are re-opened after new evidence arise
It’s also good for forsed testimonies by beating of some police officer’s !!
Papa bondey you mean to tell me they havent have that here in Dominica?.
You have got to be kidding! How about getting them to wear their uniforms and drive responsibly for a start?
This is great, and will foster stronger cases. This is how it is done in the rest of the world, everything is videotaped so it can be presented in court and there much harder to say I didn’t say this and that. Our cases have for too long been built on what is being said by a police officer.