Independent body on police complaints

As of Tuesday, January 16, 2018

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

AN independent internal review board has been initiated to oversee all complaints against police officers, Deputy Police Commissioner Emrick Seymour announced yesterday, as he insisted the police are capable of policing themselves.

Deputy Commissioner Seymour said this board will have the authority to select any complaint against police for further review to ensure due process is followed.

In 2017, there were 197 complaints made against Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) officers by members of the public.

While this represents a five percent decline from 2016’s 208 complaints, the deputy commissioner said discipline needs to be maintained in the organisation.

The announcement came amid press inquiries based on allegations that two RBPF officers were caught up in a sexual assault investigation.

Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson confirmed there is an investigation ongoing, but said it was in its early stages. He said police would make their investigation more public once it was happy with its progress.

“The office of the deputy commissioner of police has the remit and of course the overall responsibility for discipline within the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” Deputy Commissioner Seymour said.

“As the maintenance of discipline in our organisation is critical in our overall mandate, it is important that adherence to the code of discipline is observed by all of our officers.

“The question has often been asked, can the police police themselves? I would wish to answer that with an emphatic yes, we can, as this process has been demonstrated over the years. I can ensure the credibility and integrity of the process.

“To ensure that this is maintained, an internal review board, which is an independent body, has been initiated and charged with responsibility with oversight of all police investigations. It simply means that notwithstanding the complaints made to the Police Complaints Unit, the process of the investigation of those complaints is carried out by the officers themselves. However, the review board has the overall responsibility and has the authority also to call anyone of those complaints in to ensure that the due process was followed in the investigative process.”

Of the 197 complaints, Mr Seymour said 112 were investigated and completed. The remaining 85 matters are still open and under investigation, he said.

He said the concluded matters were either recommended to the court of inquiry or withdrawn because of unsubstantiated or insufficient evidence.

Officials did not say how many officers, if any, were let go from the force or punished as a result of these complaints.

bogart 6 years, 10 months ago

EXCELLENT!!! Independent examinations are needed. In such a small island everone is related, marriage, outside children, god children, from same island, same school, church, social groups, politocal party, it will always be suspect when decisions are made. Plus when reviews are paid by the same govt or paymaster and or appointed by the same govt such as directors of agencies monitores by same govt.

Many practices in the banking are suspect as some auditors have to look at whether they conform to the office which hires and pays them versus spilling the beans whistle blower to the public. We need more Independent Review Boards for both govt and private, Ombudsman etc, perhaps where money is involves even a percent of money involved for whistlrblowers.

Truism 6 years, 10 months ago

Nonsense. It's proven on a daily basis that the RBPF cannot police itself. When persons arrested are being assaulted and forced to sign statements and taken into court on trumped up charges after spending months on remand, we know there has to be a break down in discipline in the organization. When last have we heard of a police officer being charge before the court's with assult? The question for the citizenry often is who do I complain to. To complain to the police about the police is to invite further violation of one's rights.

bogart 6 years, 10 months ago

Stop being so ignorant that your emotions overide first grade comprehension. In addition to review boards Ombudsman etc is suggested to complain to which has been in the works. The learned senior police officer used the words 'independent' twice plus the o5verall 'review board has the oversll responsibility and authority also to call anyone of those complaints in to ensure that due process was followed in the investigation process.' 197 complaints and 5% decline fron 308 in 2016 nevertheless shows that people are prepared to face whatever retaliation that you perceive. Some 30 to 40 thousand daily newspaper readers oftrn find it funny when we read the stories and shortly the accused pleads Not guilty. Of course the accused is expected to say snything except to man up to their crime. Few criminals ever plead guilty despite glaring facts and in some cases like those two who locked themselves in the walk in freezer they thought was the back door and even those caught on a drug boat etc. Any steps to deal with and enhance oversight police investigations, complaints by 'indepemdent' body is welcomed. Without checks and balances to protect police fairly or unfairly accused we would indeed be faced with what you say leading to total chaos. Changes body cameras, promotion by merit not 2 weeks before elections, Independent review board, upgraded ewuipment segeways, ATV, reviews of the bail act etc must happen in order to improve. While all is not perfect as some may pecreive there is a country to run, tourists and citizems and illegals to protect and there is this additional independrnt boatd now available.

Truism 6 years, 10 months ago

Not a response to a comment, but, a comment on the article. An independent oversight committee appointed by the persons they are to police. Yes, I can see the logic in that. LOL.