Police association head says wrecker drivers bribing cops
Thursday, June 07, 2007
CHAIRMAN of the Special Constabulary Force Association Inspector Christopher Bowen yesterday called on the security ministry to get involved in the towing of vehicles seized by the police to eliminate corruption between some cops and wrecker drivers.
Special Inspector Christopher Bowen, chairman of the Special Constabulary Force Association, at yesterday's annual conference of his group at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
"Some officers accept bribes of $1,000 from persons who own wreckers to allow them to tag along during police operations (where vehicles are seized)," Bowen told the association's annual conference yesterday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.
He referred to a recent incident which took place while he was on duty at Cross Roads in Kingston, where a wrecker driver attempted to pay him $1,000 after the driver was called to tow away a van that he (Bowen) and other officers had seized.
"The driver came to me and said 'You ready for your thing now?' I asked him what thing, and he said 'Your $1,000.' I tell him just carry the car down to Lyndhurst Road."
He did not say, however, if the wrecker driver was warned or prosecuted for attempting to bribe a police officer, or if there were cases where wrecker owners were charged for bribing the police.
He suggested, however, that wrecker owners should be shut out of the business of towing vehicles seized by the police for being unlicensed, uninsured or not being roadworthy.
"Let them wait at their offices; there are enough crashed cars for them to pick up. We don't need them following behind the police," said Bowen.
At the same time, the Special Constabulary Force Association chairman expressed concern about policemen and women who drive unlicensed vehicles and refuse to stop when signalled to do so by officers from the Island Special Constabulary Force.
"Strong action should be taken against members who drive unlicensed motor vehicles," he said. "It has gotten to the point where some persons have been injured. Persons are driving unlicensed, unmarked police cars and they don't even have the courtesy to say it is the property of the commissioner of police," said Bowen.
Police officers, he told the conference, should change the way they do policing in the 21st Century. He urged his colleagues to be exemplary leaders.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
CHAIRMAN of the Special Constabulary Force Association Inspector Christopher Bowen yesterday called on the security ministry to get involved in the towing of vehicles seized by the police to eliminate corruption between some cops and wrecker drivers.
Special Inspector Christopher Bowen, chairman of the Special Constabulary Force Association, at yesterday's annual conference of his group at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
"Some officers accept bribes of $1,000 from persons who own wreckers to allow them to tag along during police operations (where vehicles are seized)," Bowen told the association's annual conference yesterday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.
He referred to a recent incident which took place while he was on duty at Cross Roads in Kingston, where a wrecker driver attempted to pay him $1,000 after the driver was called to tow away a van that he (Bowen) and other officers had seized.
"The driver came to me and said 'You ready for your thing now?' I asked him what thing, and he said 'Your $1,000.' I tell him just carry the car down to Lyndhurst Road."
He did not say, however, if the wrecker driver was warned or prosecuted for attempting to bribe a police officer, or if there were cases where wrecker owners were charged for bribing the police.
He suggested, however, that wrecker owners should be shut out of the business of towing vehicles seized by the police for being unlicensed, uninsured or not being roadworthy.
"Let them wait at their offices; there are enough crashed cars for them to pick up. We don't need them following behind the police," said Bowen.
At the same time, the Special Constabulary Force Association chairman expressed concern about policemen and women who drive unlicensed vehicles and refuse to stop when signalled to do so by officers from the Island Special Constabulary Force.
"Strong action should be taken against members who drive unlicensed motor vehicles," he said. "It has gotten to the point where some persons have been injured. Persons are driving unlicensed, unmarked police cars and they don't even have the courtesy to say it is the property of the commissioner of police," said Bowen.
Police officers, he told the conference, should change the way they do policing in the 21st Century. He urged his colleagues to be exemplary leaders.
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