There are no clear guidelines regarding the treatment of people while in police custody and this is a cause for serious concern, secretary of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association Insp Michael Seales says.
He said so yesterday as four more policemen appeared in court charged with misbehaviour in office and mistreatment of a prisoner.
Last week, 12 police officers also appeared at the Sangre Grande Magistrates' Court after they allegedly threw hot water on a suspect in custody.
Seales said the latest incident highlighted the urgent need to review the Police Standing Orders on the issue of treatment of people in custody.
However, he said while the association was concerned about the number of officers being charged, the issue was "somewhat disingenuous" due to the lack of clear stipulations.
"There is also no guideline for differently-abled, blind or homosexuals while in police custody. Even from a religious position, people of religious denominations... like Hindus and Muslims...there are no guidelines as to how they should be treated while in police custody.
"The world is constantly changing and there is absolutely no protocol as to the treatment of such people and we in the association are very concerned about this," Seales said.
According to statistics from the Police Service's Professional Standards Bureau, formed under then Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, some 22 officers have been charged and taken before the courts for misbehaviour in public office so far this year.
A total of 24 officers were charged last year for varying offences by the Professional Standards Bureau.
Seales said one of the main reasons officers found themselves on the other side of the law was a lack of training.
"The curriculum at the Police Training Academy is also devoid of how to care for people in custody and the association is saying that clear guidelines are urgently needed not only to prevent alleged abuse but also ensure that alleged perpetrators face heavy sanctions," Seales said.
Describing the issue as troubling, Seales told police officers they did not only have a duty to serve and protect but they also needed to look at themselves through the eyes of the public.
Saying such matters had been negatively affecting the Police Service for sometime, Seales said recommendations were made to former CoP Gibbs and also acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams to review the standing orders and ensure there were proper guidelines for the treatment of people in custody.
To date, Seales added, nothing had been implemented.
"The association had also asked the former solicitor general, Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, that the outcome of court cases, whether negative or positive, involving police officers and those in custody be used as guidelines.
"We had also asked former Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director Gillian Lucky to look at the code of conduct for citizens and police officers of Jamaica in which there was a special feature in terms of rights and treatment. In the meantime this matter continues to rear its ugly head," Seales added.
He recommended that a model similar to what existed in the United Kingdom be put in place where there was a "custody officer" charged with the general responsibility of ensuring that a person in police custody was treated fairly and humanely by police officers.
Breakdown
Police officers charged for the year to date:
�2 One inspector.
�2 One sergeant.
�2 Two corporals.
�2 18 constables.
The Police Complaints Authority's statistical report from Oct 1, 2013 to Sept 30, 2014:
The Investigations Department received 491 complaints for the period Oct 1, 2013 to Sept 30, 2014.
Comparisons for the preceding reporting periods are:
�2 December 29, 2010 to September 30, 2011: 255 complaints.
�2 October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012: 340 complaints.
�2 October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013: 470 complaints.
Use of Force Policy old
Contacted yesterday, PCA director David West said the fact that there were so many police officers before the courts was not really a matter of concern but rather showed that the PCA and the Professional Standards Bureau were recognising their independence and functions.
He said it also sent a message that rogue officers were in fact being weeded out which would ultimately restore faith and confidence in the public.
"Not only that but this will encourage people to make reports, which is critical. The Standing Orders and the Use of Force Policy must be reviewed and modernised because they are too old," West added.
He said on September 13, 2013, the PCA met with Williams and outlined recommendations regarding the treatment of differently-abled people while in custody but said they were yet to receive feedback.
Head of the Professional Standards Bureau, ACP Harrikrishen Baldeo, also warned yesterday that there would be a no-nonsense approach in dealing with errant officers.
"Once we get a report we will deal with it in a transparent manner. People have the notion that they don't want to come to the police because they are afraid but they are free to come to the police and I can assure that all complaints will be dealt with in strict confidence," Baldeo added.
Members of the public can contact the bureau at 625-3779.