Continuing erosion of public trust in the police service

It’s disappointing and disconcerting that in this period of high crime, a total of 12 police officers in two sets of charges have been freed by the courts, not on the basis of being found innocent of the allegations, but rather because of a failure of the prosecuting teams to provide the courts with sufficient and cogent evidence against the officers.

In one of the instances, five officers of the Northern Division Task Force were charged with extortion, soliciting $30,000 and five pounds of marijuana from a couple after a search of their home.

In the other matter, seven police officers were charged for allegedly seizing cash from a business establishment in Sangre Grande; a video is supposed to have shown the officers in the act.

In both instances, the courts, faced with what was considered to be the lack of sufficient quality evidence presented by the prosecuting teams, dismissed the cases and freed the officers. It is not a matter of seeking to persecute the officers after they were freed, but rather it’s an instance of the displayed incapacity of the prosecuting team to secure the evidence required for the matters to be proceeded with.

As we have reported on these matters, the prosecution did not produce the evidence required notwithstanding the extra time given by the courts.

There are also questions to be answered given the required and/or the usual procedure adopted that before charges can be brought in serious matters, such as the above, the police will have to get the go-ahead to prosecute having presented the evidence to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

As far as we are aware, that procedure was followed. So surely, there is a need for clarity on what went on in the two instances.

With respect to the disposal of the cases on the basis of the rulings by the courts, so unacceptable the situation seems that Finance Minister Colm Imbert has openly admitted, whether in jest or not, to being shocked about the failure of the prosecutors to bring the hard evidence to the court for a decision to be made.

Also sharing similar concerns is the Minister in the Ministry of National Security, an experienced attorney in such matters, MP Keith Scotland.

According to what was said to reporters about what is to happen now to at least allow the evidence to be disclosed in court, there is room for an appeal and/or to reinstate the charges against the officers.

The really disturbing outcome of these cases is the likely dent it will make in the public’s confidence in the capacity of prosecuting officers to gather quality evidence to bring before the court. The cases also raise concerns about whether the police were seeking to protect their own from prosecution and can result in further diminishing of public trust in the police service to deal in a fair, diligent and professional manner when their own are involved in alleged crimes.

These are surely not matters that can be left without further investigation and eventual full prosecution if warranted.

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