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APPROVED!
Cabinet gives okay for independent body to monitor police
BY BALFORD HENRY Observer writer balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
CABINET has approved measures for the creation of an independent authority to monitor police abuses, as well as the appointment of a prosecutor general to take action against persons in public life who are accused of corruption.
This was announced at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne.
Senator Lightbourne said the new police oversight body, which would be replacing the Police Public Complaints Authority and given additional powers, would be a commission of Parliament.
The body, Senator Lightbourne said, would have an islandwide presence with offices across the five police areas. It will be a 24-hour complaints authority, and will have to give frequent reports to the public as to how investigations are going and also must give quarterly reports to Parliament, said the justice minister.
"When investigations are completed, something will have to happen, whether it is a prosecution by the DPP or internal disciplinary procedures," she added.
The authority, said the justice minister, would also be given powers to investigate members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), which has been carrying out more and more duties on the streets in conjunction with the police.
"Where there is a great level of public concern over what happened, the impact it has on communities and where it has serious implications for the reputation of the security forces, this body will take over the investigations," Senator Lightbourne told reporters.
She said that in cases of less impact, the commission would manage or supervise the investigations if it is being carried out by the security forces.
The minister said, however, that in terms of less serious incidents there would be an oversight duty of the commission to ensure that the process is fair. In addition, she said, there could also be mediation on the part of the commission to deal with minor complaints and breaches.
In the meantime, Senator Lightbourne said the special prosecutor's office would subsume the current Corruption Prevention Commission, and will focus on high-level corruption. It will, however, not be involved in the seizure of assets.
The government, said Senator Lightbourne, would be introducing the so-called "whistle-blower legislation" to support the work of the prosecutor's office.
The minister said the body should increase public confidence in the whole process of police investigations, considering the level of police killings in recent years.
Members of the public would be able to make complaints to the police oversight body using a 24-hour toll-free hotline. At the same time, members of the constabulary would be mandated to file a report to the authority once there is a killing or an alleged abuse of a civilian. Sanctions will be taken against those who fail to comply.
The government's concern about police brutality came against a growing number of incidents in which residents have accused the police of brutality in carrying out their duties.
Cabinet gives okay for independent body to monitor police
BY BALFORD HENRY Observer writer balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
CABINET has approved measures for the creation of an independent authority to monitor police abuses, as well as the appointment of a prosecutor general to take action against persons in public life who are accused of corruption.
This was announced at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne.
Senator Lightbourne said the new police oversight body, which would be replacing the Police Public Complaints Authority and given additional powers, would be a commission of Parliament.
The body, Senator Lightbourne said, would have an islandwide presence with offices across the five police areas. It will be a 24-hour complaints authority, and will have to give frequent reports to the public as to how investigations are going and also must give quarterly reports to Parliament, said the justice minister.
"When investigations are completed, something will have to happen, whether it is a prosecution by the DPP or internal disciplinary procedures," she added.
The authority, said the justice minister, would also be given powers to investigate members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), which has been carrying out more and more duties on the streets in conjunction with the police.
"Where there is a great level of public concern over what happened, the impact it has on communities and where it has serious implications for the reputation of the security forces, this body will take over the investigations," Senator Lightbourne told reporters.
She said that in cases of less impact, the commission would manage or supervise the investigations if it is being carried out by the security forces.
The minister said, however, that in terms of less serious incidents there would be an oversight duty of the commission to ensure that the process is fair. In addition, she said, there could also be mediation on the part of the commission to deal with minor complaints and breaches.
In the meantime, Senator Lightbourne said the special prosecutor's office would subsume the current Corruption Prevention Commission, and will focus on high-level corruption. It will, however, not be involved in the seizure of assets.
The government, said Senator Lightbourne, would be introducing the so-called "whistle-blower legislation" to support the work of the prosecutor's office.
The minister said the body should increase public confidence in the whole process of police investigations, considering the level of police killings in recent years.
Members of the public would be able to make complaints to the police oversight body using a 24-hour toll-free hotline. At the same time, members of the constabulary would be mandated to file a report to the authority once there is a killing or an alleged abuse of a civilian. Sanctions will be taken against those who fail to comply.
The government's concern about police brutality came against a growing number of incidents in which residents have accused the police of brutality in carrying out their duties.