450 cops being probed

UPDATE:

NATIONAL Security Minister Edmund Dillon yesterday disclosed that 450 police officers are under investigation for disciplinary misconduct. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Dillon said this was the information from the Police Service’s Complaints Division. However he explained, “The names of police officers are not always included in the initial complaints and therefore the figure can vary once an investigation has commenced and the officer(s) is identified in relation to the allegation.”

Suspension or dismissal are two penalties which officers can face, if they are found to be guilty of disciplinary misconduct.

Dillon listed training and procedural sensitisation, internal conference and target problem solving are some of the measures used to address the issue.

“Recommendations that may include ongoing monitoring, welfare referral, training or counselling intervention will be made.

“The direct approach is intended to result in a reduction in the number of complaints that an officer attracts in the future.”

On the issue of changing the screening process for recruits, Dillon said the Police Academy’s recruitment process is guided by the Police Service Act. The recruitment and selection process has several components. These include polygraph testing, medical examinations, dangerous drugs tests, background investigations, pregnancy tests, agility tests, panel interviews, advertisements in the media, a written examination and physiological screening.

Contacted yesterday, Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West said he was uncertain about the figures which Dillon was referring to. West said the PCA did send information about complaints to acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams. The PCA’s 2016/2017 annual report said of 284 complaints, there were 752 assigned to defaulting police officers. The report said 359 or 48 per cent of the total allegations, were criminal offences.

The report further stated that 393 or 52 per cent were disciplinary offences. Of the 358 allegations of criminal offences, the PCA said, the largest category was assault with 139 allegations. Fatalities and near fatalities were second with 92 allegations. There were 42 fraud and corruption allegations against police officers. There were 19 firearm offences allegations against police officers. Some 138 of the 393 allegations were classified as unlawful or unnecessary exercise of authority. There were 112 allegations of discreditable conduct. The remaining 96 allegations were defined as neglect of duty.

Also listed as allegations of disciplinary offences against police officers were corrupt practices (35), drinking on duty or soliciting a drink (three), breach of confidence (two) and disciplinary offences under the Supplemental Reserve Police Act. The PCA completed 829 investigations into complaints against police officers between 2016 and 2017. Within this number, 732 investigations were closed without any further action. The PCA sent 80 investigations to the CoP and 17 to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The PCA also said there were 529 alleged defaulting officers, identified by rank, out of 284 complaints. The authority identified 258 of these officers as constables. The report also showed 35 allegations were made against sergeants and 53 were made against corporals. There was one allegation listed against the ranks of CoP/ Deputy Police Commissioner. There were three allegations against assistant CoPs.

Earlier in the sitting, Dillon said there has been no confirmation of allegations of a prostitution ring involving South American women and local law enforcement officials. This, Dillon said, was the information from the Police Service and the ministry’s Counter-Trafficking Unit. He said the Police Service’s Professional Standards Bureau, “monitors such reports and initiates all necessary actions.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

NATIONAL Security Minister Edmund Dillon told members of the House of Representatives today that 450 police officers are under investigation for disciplinary misconduct. Dillon also said there has been no confirmation of allegations of a prostitution ring involving South American women and law enforcement officers.

"The names of police officers are not always included in the initial complaints and therefore the figure can vary once an investigation has commenced and the officer(s) are identified in relation to the allegation."

He said Sections 151 and 152 of the Police Service Regulations 2007 address the issue of disciplinary misconduct. Training and procedural sensitisation, internal conference and target problem solving are some of the measures used to deal with this matter.