Tweet
Police High Command concerned about INDECOM report
6:23 pm, Fri May 17, 2013
The Police High Command says it disagrees with aspects of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) special report to Parliament which refers to the use of deadly force and death of the mentally ill, while in police lock-ups.
In a release, the High Command expressed concern, that some of the comments made by the INDECOM team at a press conference on Wednesday, were misleading.
The first statement presented by INDECOM and discounted by the Police High Command is in relation to the number of prisoners who died in lock-ups between 2005 and 2011. INDECOM said 36 died, however the police say their records indicate 29.
The police say of the 29 prisoners who died, seven died from health-related issues, six were found hanging in their cells, the cause of death was listed as unknown for 9 inmates and they are awaiting the medical reports on the cause of death for the remaining seven cases.
The High Command says on average 803,000 persons pass through police lock-ups annually.
It says even with the INDECOM figures of 12 prisoners dying per year, the mortality rate is significantly lower than the 802 thousand 988 inmates who remain alive each year.
The High Command was quick to point out that it was not saying that any one life is more significant than another, but the INDECOM report obscured the fact that inmate deaths were an infrequent occurrence.
The High Command also said the report failed to highlight that a number of the deaths that occurred in Police lock-ups were due to natural causes such as ulcer, intestinal bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, HIV and heart failure.
Another aspect of the INDECOM special report has also been dismissed - that concerning the suicide of five inmates at the Port Antonio lock-up in the eastern parish of Portland.
The Constabulary Force says its records indicate, that only three of the five cases were considered suicide.
6:23 pm, Fri May 17, 2013
The Police High Command says it disagrees with aspects of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) special report to Parliament which refers to the use of deadly force and death of the mentally ill, while in police lock-ups.
In a release, the High Command expressed concern, that some of the comments made by the INDECOM team at a press conference on Wednesday, were misleading.
The first statement presented by INDECOM and discounted by the Police High Command is in relation to the number of prisoners who died in lock-ups between 2005 and 2011. INDECOM said 36 died, however the police say their records indicate 29.
The police say of the 29 prisoners who died, seven died from health-related issues, six were found hanging in their cells, the cause of death was listed as unknown for 9 inmates and they are awaiting the medical reports on the cause of death for the remaining seven cases.
The High Command says on average 803,000 persons pass through police lock-ups annually.
It says even with the INDECOM figures of 12 prisoners dying per year, the mortality rate is significantly lower than the 802 thousand 988 inmates who remain alive each year.
The High Command was quick to point out that it was not saying that any one life is more significant than another, but the INDECOM report obscured the fact that inmate deaths were an infrequent occurrence.
The High Command also said the report failed to highlight that a number of the deaths that occurred in Police lock-ups were due to natural causes such as ulcer, intestinal bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, HIV and heart failure.
Another aspect of the INDECOM special report has also been dismissed - that concerning the suicide of five inmates at the Port Antonio lock-up in the eastern parish of Portland.
The Constabulary Force says its records indicate, that only three of the five cases were considered suicide.
Comment