There is zero tolerance for police brutality within the police force and Government. This is according to the Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves who made the statement during Parliament last week.
“First of all I want to say that the policy of this Government and it is in the police force also to have zero tolerance for police brutality and wherever there are instances of or allegations of police brutality they are accommodated either through an internal investigation, some people make a complaint and don’t want to proceed with a case and the internal complaints department deals with this matter.” He said.
The Prime Minister said that in most cases where there are allegations of police brutality, the relevant files are sent to the Director of Public Prosecution which then results in most cases, some form of prosecution.
“In some cases as a result of these prosecutions, police officers have been found guilty and some cases, not guilty. In any event there are several cases that have come before the court, not the criminal court, but the civil courts, for compensation, some of those cases were dismissed, some others the police officers have been found guilty, because invariably when you sue, you see the police officer and the state through the attorney general and compensation has been paid.” He said.
Gonsalves that there are cases where it may not be worth it to defend the civil suit, in cases like this the Governor General will seek to negotiate a settlement.
