Concerned over a recent spate of abuses allegedly committed by members of the Guyana Police Force, the Executive of the Police Association has been visiting stations across the country to sensitise ranks about their conduct and responsibilities.
In a statement on Thursday, the Police Association Executive noted incidents of alleged police brutality, use of excessive force, collusion and complicity in armed robbery involving errant policemen that have been publicised in the print and electronic media. “The Executive of the Police Associa-tion wishes to categorically state that its members are not immune from citizens’ oversight while discharging their duties in keeping with the Police Force’s mandate as the premier law enforcement organisation,” it said.
It added that the Executive does not and will not condone the actions of those members who are involved in any form of lawlessness and criminality and wishes to emphasis that its members must continue to respect and protect human rights such as the right to life and dignity of the individual; as well as the exercise of democratic freedoms including freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention and impartiality in the administration of the law.
Towards this end, the Executive body of the Association has started to visit ranks at Police Stations in the various divisions, emphasising the importance of professionalism, discipline, human rights, the use of force, the rights of the child, as well as the commitment to constitutional and moral values for mutual respect in the provision of service to the communities. “The Association believes that any violation should be met with the appropriate sanction, once the member concerned has been found culpable after due process and is supportive of the efforts of the administration of the Force to curb such behaviour by dealing condignly with errant ranks,” it said.
The Executive also called on the majority of members, whom it said continue to perform in keeping with their Oath of Office, to ensuring the preservation of law and order while effectively recording successes in the fight against crime and to incorporate and demonstrate ethical competence in the discharge of their duties.
“Ranks are therefore urged not to succumb to any form of de-motivation that will precipitate totally unacceptable behaviour and a clear and unambiguous adherence to the law on the use of force and police abuse is to be embraced and reinforced,” it said, while adding that improved performance will see a more positive image of the Force, resulting in the more active involvement of civil society.
