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Unhappy with police? NPC has new set of guidelines
The National Police Commission (NPC) has made new rules of procedure to investigate public complaints against police officers.
The new rules simplify the procedure to be followed by the Commission to investigate public complaints.
With regard to complaints such as refusal to record complaints, undue delay in making available certified copies of statements made to the police, discouraging complainants or witnesses from making statements, use of abusive language, threats or intimidation of complainants or witnesses and inaction or partiality by the police in taking action on complaints made, the Commission said it would make every effort to conclude investigations within 30 days.
With regard to complaints about violation of Human Rights, allegations of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or injury to a member of the public in Police care or custody, death of a person in Police care or custody, fabrications of cases and making false reports or statements to court, the NPC said it would attempt to conclude investigations within 60 days.
Any person aggrieved by an act or omission committed by a police officer, or the police force in carrying out his or its duty, can lodge any complaint with the NPC against such officer/s or the police force.
The NPC said that every complaint received by the Commission will be recorded in a Register, according to the Province and District, and acknowledged within seven days of its receipt thereof, while the complaint and related documents, if any, will be securely maintained by the Commission.
The new rules also allow for members of the Commission, with the co-operation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to visit any police station, to inspect any person in police custody.
Other offences by the police that the public can complain against, include interference, intimidation and threat to victims and witnesses, directly by themselves or by deployment of intermediaries, any attempt to coerce, intimidate or subvert evidence or reports of Medical Officer or any other Public Officer, in submitting false documents or engage in dereliction of duties of such officers, gross abuse of power, neglect of duties or acts bringing disrepute to the Police Service and illegal arrest and detention.
Other listed offences are assault, intimidation, abuse or threat, making deliberate distortions in statements recorded, failure to maintain records, erasing or otherwise altering the records, exhibiting partiality towards members of political parties or any other party in carrying out official duties and willful institution of defective or incomplete criminal charges against the accused persons.
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