News
Updates
Bangladesh:
Promulgation
of the draft Bangladesh Police Ordinance (2007) has been delayed
as the Home Ministry has recently asked Police Headquarters to
consult stakeholders on the draft at thana, district and divisional
level. It is believed that once the draft ordinance is enacted
the influence of ruling political parties on the police department
will reduce sharply. (05/02/08)
South Africa: Mayhem broke out in Plettenberg
Bay yesterday when police
and security guards attacked unarmed squatters with sjamboks and
shot them with rubber bullets in an unprovoked attack witnessed
by several shocked journalists. Police have vowed to investigate
the incident and have promised to take disciplinary action against
any police officer found to have abused his powers. (05/02/2008)
Canada: Defense counsel, former prosecutors
and police accountability experts have suggested that the Ontario
government launch an intensive review – perhaps even a public
inquiry – into the prosecution's
bungling of what has been called Canada's biggest police corruption
scandal. With a judge staying criminal charges against six
Toronto police officers because of unreasonable trial delays caused
by the Crown, the public needs to know why the attorney-general's
office allowed the case to languish. (02/02/08)
Bahamas:
There was another delay in the case of two
police officers allegedly accused of brutally attacking, and killing,
a father of six. The delay was due to the fact that one of
the accused requires new legal representation. (01/02/2008)
Zimbabwe: A leading Zimbabwean nongovernmental
organization has voiced concern over what it says is a rising
level of violence by police officers and members of the army against
the population with national elections coming up in just nine
weeks. The National Constitutional Assembly issued a statement
charging that the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the army are increasingly
resorting to violence when dealing with unarmed demonstrators.
(30/01/08)
Malaysia:
Malaysian
police detained 53 activists in a crackdown on a planned opposition-led
protest over inflation ahead of national elections expected within
weeks. (27/01/08)
Canada:
A teenager alleges that the RCMP
assaulted and unlawfully confined her when she was just 15 years
old. A surveillance tape of the incident appears to indicate
that the police forcibly restrained the intoxicated youth and
tethered her to a door with bound hands and feet for four hours.
(22/01/08)
Guyana: For years the seriousness with which
the police force handles reports of domestic violence has been
questioned and criticized and even after sustained training and
sensitization women
continue to be abused and in mortal danger after making reports
to stations. (22/01/08)
Pakistan:
A minor girl died of suffocation allegedly due to negligence
of the police during a search operation carried out by them
in which seven persons were arrested in Shah Nawaz Shar Goth.
(17/01/2008)
Kenya: Residents
of Kenya's biggest slum accused the police of opening fire on
demonstrators, spraying bullets as residents ran for cover
among the tin-roofed shacks. Even those who say they are not involved
in political protests have complained of police brutality. (17/01/08)
Zimbabwe: A report issued by The Open Society
Initiative recommends that the Zimbabwean government ceases and
investigates all acts of torture and state sanctioned violence.
Specifically, it was recommended
that police and ZANU-PF officials who have participated in torture
and political violence be held accountable in courts of law for
their actions. (14/01/08)
Kenya: Kenyan
police have used lethal force, including gunfire, to break up
anti-government protests, the US-based Human Rights Watch
(HRW) has said. "Kenyan security forces have a duty to rein
in criminal violence and should protect people, but they shouldn't
turn their weapons on peaceful protesters," said Georgette
Gagnon, acting Africa director at HRW (13/01/08).
South Africa:
South African President
Thabo Mbeki has suspended police chief Jackie Selebi because he
faces corruption charges. Mr Selebi is alleged to have received
$170,000 USD from a convicted criminal over a five-year period
(12/01/08).
Jamaica: Less than a month after he took up
office, new Police
Commissioner Hardley Lewin has received the endorsement of Jamaicans
for Justice (JFJ). Dr. Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director of
the JFJ, says that Commissioner Lewin gave a commitment to deal
with several important issues, chief among them the abuse of citizen's
rights by some Force members (11/01/08).
Canada:
Experts on Canadian policing issues indicate that the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will undergo significant reform
during 2008. Due to high-profile scandals and a scathing report
that stated that the RCMP is plagued by problems and “horribly
broken”, the force will be expected to reform its culture
and governance (10/01/08).
Canada:
Amnesty International criticised the Canadian government for stating
before a Public Inquiry that notwithstanding the Convention against
Torture, Canadian
intelligence agencies and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are
permitted to share intelligence with countries that practice torture
(10/01/08).
Bangladesh: Former Prime Minister and Bangladesh
Nationalist Party chief Khaleda
Zia's detained elder son Tarique Rahman has claimed he was "inhumanly
tortured" when he was in police remand for interrogation
in a corruption case. Since his arrest by army-led joint forces
from his mother's Dhaka Cantonment residence on March 7, Rahman
was remanded in custody for 10 days at different dates as he faced
several criminal and corruption charges (10/01/08).
Nigeria: President
Umaru Yar'Adua inaugurated the 16-person Presidential Committee
on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force with a pledge to strengthen
the force for more efficiency and effectiveness. The Committee
will examine the present state of the Nigeria Police Force, identify
and recommend measures that will enhance Police service delivery,
and examine and recommend measures needed for the complete transformation
of the Nigeria Police Force into an efficient agency (09/01/08).
United Kingdom: After Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the
former Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, came
under fire when a judge criticised the police investigation of
the Omagh bombing, Prime
Minister Gordon Brown defended his current senior police advisor
in the Home Office. During the Omagh trial, Mr Justice Weir
said two officers on the case were guilty of "deliberate
and calculated deception". It later emerged they are still
on duty with the police. The Policing Board has pledged an independent
review of all investigations into the Omagh bombing (08/01/08).
India and Malaysia:
Bhuthang police station in Malaysia placed first and Palakkad
town’s south police station in Kerala, India was ranked
second in South
Asia’s best police station test which is conducted by Altus
Global on behalf of the United Nations. (02/01/08)
Bangladesh:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a
Police Reform Programme in Bangladesh which is aimed at improving
police response to gendered crime. The Programme introduces
gender-specific guidelines for policing and will eventually establish
woman police units at all stations, which aims to ensure that
female victims, witnesses and suspects are dealt with by female
police officers. (02/01/08)
India: Members of the Tamil Nadu Traders Federation
were arrested following a protest demanding that murder
charges be brought against police officers in relation to the
custodial death of one of their members. The Federation claim
that the man died as a result of police torture, while the police
maintain that he died from complications following surgery. (01/01/08)
New Zealand:
A review of the New Zealand police by the New Zealand Press Association
(NZPA) has found that 2007
was a ‘tough year’ for police. As previously noted
in CHRI’s news updates, there has been ongoing controversy
around the use of stun guns by police. Further, Dame Margaret
Bazley’s report into police conduct found that some officers
have engaged in ‘disgraceful’ sexual behaviour, prompting
Police Commissioner Howard Broad to implement all recommendations
in the report. A separate report, which was leaked to the press,
found that ‘sub-standard police recruits’ were being
accepted into the force. (31/12/07)
Uganda: P.K. Arinaitwe, Uganda’s northern
region Police commander has issued
a warning to police officers against corruption, bribery and torture.
Mr. Arinaitwe highlighted the risk of mistrust between the population
and police if officers engage in such conduct. (30/12/07)
Antigua & Barbuda: The Royal
Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is investigating allegations
of excessive force and brutality by its officers. It is not
known whether any of the officers under investigation have so
far been disciplined. (28/12/07)
Australia:
The New South Wales Police Integrity Commission released its report
on allegations of corruption against two senior police officers,
concluding that the officers engaged in misconduct. Police
Commissioner Andrew Scipione supported the findings and expressed
his support of the independent Police Integrity Commission
in New South Wales, highlighting the importance of this mechanism
for eradicating corruption within the force. Commissioner Scipione’s
comments were in response to attacks on the Commission by standing
members of the New South Wales police force. (21/12/07)
Pakistan:
Lawyers in Pakistan have complained of police
brutality during a rally on 31 December 2007, at which they
sought an audience with deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad
Chaundhry. A spokesperson for the lawyers complained that the
police
issued first information reports (FIRs) against the protesters
despite the rally remaining a peaceful exercise of their right
to assembly and expression. (19/12/07)
New Zealand: Associate Minister for Justice,
the Honourable Nick Barker, announced that Cabinet has approved
a number of changes
to the Independent Police Conduct Authority which are designed
to enhance
independence, effectiveness and public confidence in the Authority.
An implementation Bill will be introduced to Parliament in early
2008. (17/12/07)
Zimbabwe: According
to Amnesty International, violence and torture by Zimbabwe's police
against rights activists and opposition members are on the increase
despite ongoing mediation efforts. The rights body found police
continue to use "excessive force and torture" to suppress
freedom of association and assembly by human rights defenders
and by members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
(14/12/07)
Malaysia: The
Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)
was unveiled in parliament as the Special Complaints Commission
(SCC). It will address complaints of misconduct not just against
the police but all enforcement agencies. Under the bill, the SCC
will give the police and connected agencies first choice to discipline
errant personnel. Failing this, the SCC will take over through
a task force. (14/12/07)
Malaysia: Malaysian
authorities arrested five ethnic Indian activists Thursday under
a security law that allows indefinite detention without trial.
The activists are key officials in the Hindu Rights Action Force,
or Hindraf, which held a street protest Nov. 25 that drew about
20,000 ethnic Indians complaining about alleged racial discrimination.
(13/12/07)
Nigeria:
In a report on its year-long monitoring of more than 400 police
stations, the Network
on Police Reform in Nigeria claimed that police killing, torture,
extortion and rape had become routine because the authorities
shield their personnel from the legal consequences. According
to the report, thousands of detainees are killed annually in encounters
with the police and hundreds of detainees die from injuries sustained
during torture conducted by the police. (12/12/07)
Guyana: The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy
(CGID) criticised
the Guyana government and its security forces for what it described
as the use of torture as an acceptable instrument of law enforcement
and intelligence gathering. The New-York based organisation
accuses the government of using security forces to target young
African Guyanese men. (11/12/07)
Jamaica: The
Prime Minister stated that Jamaican soldiers will join police
on patrols on the Caribbean island in a new strategy to fight
rising violence. He said the Jamaica Defence Force soldiers
may be given the same powers as police officers, but he did not
elaborate or specify how many would be assigned to help the 8,000-strong
police force. (07/12/07)
Australia: New Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced
that there will
be an inquiry into the police handling of former terrorism suspect
Mohamed Haneef. He stated that an inquiry was necessary to
ensure anti-terrorism legislation was kept accountable. He stated:
"We want to make sure that with these tough anti-terrorism
laws that we've got in Australia that we've got the proper institutional
arrangements necessary for their enforcement and the proper checks
and balances as well." (06/12/07)
United Kingdom:
The Home Secretary watered down proposals
to extend the current 28-day time limit for police to hold terrorist
suspects after a leaked report and a top anti-terrorism lawyer
said that the extension to a 58-day limit was unjustified. The
new proposal is that police can only extend the current limit
“in the event of an emergency”. (06/12/07)
Pakistan:
Twelve police
stations across Pakistan participated in the internationally organised
“Police Station Visitors Week”. Visitors from
a cross section of the community visited police stations and evaluated
their services. The Federal Interior Minister announced that Pakistan
was committed to improving police performance and aiming to create
more people friendly stations and reverse people’s negative
perceptions of the police. (06/12/07)
Pakistan:
The National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested the Deputy Inspector General
of the Sindh Police on charges of corruption and misuse of
powers. (05/12/07)
Pakistan: A coalition of civil society organisations
condemned
the brutal police actions against peaceful dissent against
measures taken in the state of emergency. More lawyers
rallied in Lahore after a call to protest against the emergency
by the Pakistan and Lahore Bar Associations. (05/12/07)
Antigua and Barbuda: The Prime Minister had
discussions with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the
reform
of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, among other
issues where the UK could offer assistance. The reform of the
Royal Police Force was also an issue of discussion between Antigua
and Barbuda, the UK and Canada during the Uganda CHOGM. (05/12/07)
Canada: The Government
announced that it will wait to revise the definition of terrorism
in the Anti-Terrorism Act until the end of the public
inquiry into the Air India bombing and the recommendations that
arise from the inquiry. The current definition is criticised for
being too broad. A committee of senators is currently examining
a government bill to reintroduce two controversial anti-terrorism
measures that expired in 2006: one to give police power to force
an individual to give testimony with potential of a terrorist
attack and the other giving police power to preventively arrest
people and detain them for up to 72 hours. (04/12/07)
Nigeria: UK assistance in the proposed reorganisation
and reform
of the Nigerian Police Force was criticised by some as inappropriate
for Nigeria’s needs and the imperatives of systemic political
reform and the type of police system that will be truly effective
in the country. Others have commented on the inutility of reform
unless the police are allowed to perform
their roles free from executive interference and political
corruption. (04/12/07)
Northern Ireland: The driver
of police reform in Northern Ireland, Lord Patten, gave a human
rights lecture to the Royal Irish Academy on the issue of
democracy and terrorism. (04/12/07)
Sri Lanka: Civil society organisations on Sri
Lanka addressed an open letter to the Sri Lankan Government concerning
the mass
arbitrary arrest and detention of Tamils in and around Colombo,
Kalutara, Galle, Puttalam, Pusselawa in a security crackdown following
two bombings that killed twenty people. The National Human Rights
Commission, which is mandated to monitor arrests and detentions
has not received any list of detainees as is required under Presidential
Guidelines that were reissued in June 2007. Faced with criticism,
a Cabinet Minister announced that it had released many of the
2000
people detained without charge in the police response. (04/12/07)
United Kingdom:
Andy Hayman, the anti-terrorism
chief of the Metropolitan Police resigned. He was also the
head of terrorism at the Association of Police Officers. The resignation
came after intense media commentary of a disagreement between
him and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair during
the IPCC investigations into the lethal police shooting of Jean
Charles de Menezes. (04/12/07)
Kenya: Police
in Kenya have used tear
gas and water canons to disperse protestors in the aftermath
of the 27 December 2007 elections. Amnesty International has expressed
concerns about reports that dozens
of protestors have been killed and injured by police and has
called on the Kenyan authorities to bring the officers responsible
to justice. Reports suggest that 300 people have been killed and
over 70,000 have been displaced as a result of the violence. (03/12/07)
Canada: The Federal Court in Canada has ruled
that the Canadian Border Services Agency is permitted to deport
violators who had earlier served in the Sri Lankan police or military
and were found to have killed people suspected of being Tamil
Tigers rebels on the basis that such people were complicit in
war crimes. (03/12/07)
Nigeria: After discussions at the CHOGM in Kampala,
President Umaar Yar Ardua announced that the Nigerian
Government invited the British to assist in the reform of the
Nigeria Police Force. (03/12/07)
New Zealand: The Green Party has requested the
Police Complaints Authority to consider whether the introduction
of the Taser stun gun as a police tool contravenes New Zealand’s
commitments under UN Convention Against Torture. The Green’s
request follows the UN Committee Against Torture’s reference
on Friday to Taser stun guns as a ‘tool of torture’.
(27/11/07)
New Zealand: The Police Complaints Authority Chief, Justice
Lowell Goddard, QC, has called for a truly independent
Police Complaints Authority to promote public confidence in the
police. Justice Goddard criticised the Authority’s reliance
on police to conduct their own investigations into complaints
made against them. (28/11/07)
Kenya: A group of Kenyan human rights lawyers
claim that over 8,000
Kenyans have been tortured to death or executed by Kenyan police
since the 1992 crack-down on the banned Mungiki sect. Earlier
this month, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights implicated
Kenya police in the ‘execution-style deaths’ of 500
Mungiki’s in June and October. (25/11/07)
Nigeria: The Nigerian Government has requested
the assistance of the British
Police to reform and train the Nigerian Police. The Nigerian
Interior Minister said that the British Government is ready to
assist, and the nature and scope of the collaboration to be worked
out by a committee
constituted by retired and senior police officers. (27/11/07)
Nigeria: Nine
Nigerian police officers have been sacked by the Inspector
General of Police for allegedly extorting money from motorists
in Abuja. (27/11/07)
South Africa: Manenberg police station, despite
being located in the heart of gangland, has been named one of
the best police stations in South Africa. Police Superintendent
Andre Bosman credits the station’s successes to its commitment
to accountability, whereby police officers are held accountable
for the level of crime and number of arrests on their beat. (27/11/07)
England: The Local Government Network has released
a report which highlights the lack of police
accountability in London. The Network’s spokesperson
has called for public debate around the issue of accountability.
(25/11/07)
India: Chandigarh Sector 17 Police Station has
been awarded international certification ISO-9001:2000 for meeting
good service standards. The station adopted a number of initiatives
including formal feedback mechanisms and a toll free help line
for senior citizens. However, the Administrator General stressed
the need for continued improvement to the station’s service
delivery, the feedback processes and filing of FIRs by aggrieved
persons. (28/11/07)
India: Following three days of rioting in the
capital, a deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police
in Assam have been transferred. The Tarun Gogoi ministry said
that the transfers
were necessary to ensure police accountability for the failure
to take measures against events which preceded the mob violence.
(27/11/07)
India: Justice
S N Dhingra of the Delhi High Court has strongly criticised Delhi
police for failing to cooperate in the arrest and prosecution
of 11 allegedly corrupt Members of Parliament. His Honour said
that the police’s conduct demonstrated an attitude ‘that
corruption
itself is not bad but exposure of corruption is bad’.
(28/11/07)
India: The
leader of the Communist Party of India has complained about
the role of the Central Reserve Police Force in responding to
violence in Nandigram. The Police Force are alleged to have
precipitated violence and failed to work in collaboration with
the local administration to restore order. (29/11/07)
Northern Ireland: The European Court of Human
Rights found that Britain’s investigation
into alleged collusion between the Northern Ireland police and
Protestant loyalist forces was not sufficiently independent.
The investigation began in 1999 when a former officer of the Royal
Ulster Constabulary (now called the North Ireland Police Service)
blew the whistle on collusion. (27/11/07)
Northern Ireland: A dissident group of the Irish
Republican Army (IRA), the Real IRA, has threatened to continue
shooting police officers in an effort to dissuade Catholics from
joining the police force. The threats
undermine the police reform project, which aims to increase
representation of Catholics within police ranks. Earlier this
month, the Real IRA shot two off-duty police officers. (29/11/07)
Trinidad & Tobago:
Former head of the police Firearms and Interdiction Unit has accused
the Southern Division of the Trinidad Police Service of corruption,
both generally and in respect of gun and drug rackets. The complainant
has publicly stated that he has no
confidence in the Assistant Commissioner appointed by the Police
Service to investigate his claims. (29/11/07)
Jamaica: Measures to establish a new
police oversight body have been approved by Cabinet. The new
body will replace the existing Police Public Complaints Authority
and will investigate complaints of ‘great public concern’.
However, the investigation of complaints with ‘less’
public impact will be conducted by security forces under the management
or supervision of the new body. (28/11/07)
Fiji: A New Zealand citizen, Ballu Khan, is alleged
to have been seized
by Fiji's military and tortured amid claims of a plot to assassinate
military leader Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in a coup
last December. (23/11/07)
India: In the aftermath of allegations of police
brutality over the Nandigram affair, police
exhibited restraint during subsequent demonstrations. Under
orders not to fire, the police force — comprising men from
five police stations and 100 RAF personnel — instead used
teargas, firing around 200 rounds through the day. (22/11/07)
Uganda: The Uganda Human Rights Commission has
urged the Commonwealth to look into allegations
of torture committed by Ugandan police forces and the Ugandan
army. (22/11/07)
Trinidad & Tobago: David Abdulah, President
of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and Non-governmental
organisations (FITUN), criticised the country's criminal justice
system. Specifically, he accused the police of using excessive
force against youths and said that the entire system is in
a state of collapse. (22/11/07)
Pakistan: In an effort to prevent protestors
from staging a demonstration, Karachi
policemen thrashed senior journalists who were leading the
rally. The baton charge left dozens of journalists, both men and
women, injured. (21/11/07)
Nigeria: The Federal Government has been called
upon to launch an independent public inquiry in light of official
statistics indicating that police
have shot and killed more than 8,000 Nigerians since 2000.
Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro announced that 785 suspected
'armed robbers' were shot and killed in gunfire exchanges with
the police between June and the beginning of September 2007. (20/11/07)
Zambia: After a rash of fatal shootings perpetrated
by police officers, Home
Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha directed Commissioner of Police
Francis Kabonde to withdraw firearms from irresponsible officers
to reduce such occurrences. Human Rights Commission Director Enoch
Mulembe stated that the Zambia Police should account for every
life taken by a police officer in the line of duty. (19/11/07)
Canada: The provincial government of British
Columbia has announced a full
public inquiry into the death of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish
immigrant who died after Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers
shocked him with a Taser at Vancouver International Airport. The
federal government is waiting until investigations into the matter
are complete before deciding if additional action needs to be
taken. (19/11/07)
Jamaica: Mark
Shields, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Jamaica), testified for
four days before a coroner’s inquest that was called
to investigate the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer.
During his testimony, Shields attempted to explain the controversial
actions of police officers in the immediate aftermath of Woolmer’s
death. (18/11/07)
Sri Lanka: Despite well
documented cases of police brutality and torture compiled
by the Asian Human Rights Commission, no investigation has been
conducted by the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General's
Department, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, or the National
Police Commission into the allegations. (16/11/07)
Pakistan: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) condemned
the illegal detention of its supporters opposing the state of
emergency. The PPP alleged that supporters
have been subject to baton charging, tear gassing and aerial firing,
and that brutal human rights violations were being committed by
the police. (15/11/07)
Pakistan: Police
arrested Pakistani Politician Imran Khan as he was taking part
in a student protest in Lahore against General Musharraf’s
state of emergency. Police said he would be charged under anti-terrorism
laws. He was previously being held in custody under a 90-day house
arrest detention order. (15/11/07)
Bangladesh:
A local leader of the Bangladesh Chhatara League alleged he was
tortured
and critically injured in police custody. (13/11/07)
New Zealand: Parliament voted to strengthen
existing anti-terrorism laws through the enactment of the
Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill. The Government claims that
the Bill had no relevance to police raids in October and the Solicitor-General’s
decision not to charge people under the current anti-terrorism
laws. (13/11/07)
Zimbabwe:
Women of Zimbabwe Arise have blamed
police torture for the death of their founding member. (13/11/07)
Australia: A hearing by the Victorian Office
of Police Integrity (OPI) into police corruption and confidential
information leaks resulted in the resignation of a number of implicated
Victoria Police officers. The OPI
held a public hearing on 7 November, with the purpose of enhancing
public confidence in the OPI and Victoria Police. (12/11/07)
United Kingdom:
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair stated his intention
to retain his position despite criticism
over the handling of the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting
and pressure that he quit. (12/1107)
New Zealand: The Maori Law Commissioner called
for the investigation of police conduct in anti-terrorism raids
carried out in October and wants New Zealand’s anti-terrorism
act repealed. (11/11/07)
United Kingdom:
The family of Jean Charles de Menezes demanded
the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian
Blair. (11/11/07)
Malaysia: Hundreds of riot police were deployed
and police
used water canons and tear gas against crowds at a banned
rally protesting against changes to Malaysia’s electoral
system. It was Malaysia’s biggest anti-government protest
in almost ten years, with estimated numbers at 30,000. (10/11/07)
Ghana: Following
a dispute between police chiefs that led to brutal clashes between
the police and the community in the Volta region, CHRI
called for the appointment of a new Regional Police Commissioner.
It also called for the prosecution of those officers in charge
of the operations. (09/11/07)
Kenya: At a Presidential Committee investigating
renditions, women gave evidence
of the abusive arrests and interrogations carried out by the Anti-Terrorism
Police Unit (09/11/07)
Pakistan:
Leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif
condemned
police violence taking place under the state of emergency
against lawyers, students and human rights groups. (09/11/07)
Zimbabwe: The International
Bar Association condemned the Zimbabwean police force of being
partisan and severely repressive. Their report stated that there
are few
guarantees of a free and fair election (scheduled for March
next year) due to evidence of widespread police abuses including
torture, intimidation and illegal arrest (08/11/07)
Kenya: Major-General
Hussein Ali, Kenya’s
Police Commissioner, accused the Kenya National Human Rights Commission
of tainting the Kenya Police in order to justify its existence.
(07/11/07)
Pakistan:
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called
on police to enhance their role in maintaining law and order and
protecting lives of citizens, in an address to a the National
Police Academy. He also stated that police reforms were “the
cornerstone of the government’s overall agenda of improving
governance in the country.” (07/11/07)
Kenya: The
Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR) accused
police of killing nearly 500 people in the crackdown on Mungiki
sect members between June and October 2007. The Commission
has issued a report.
(06/11/07)
Pakistan: Up to 500
people were arrested by police after General Musharraf declared
a state of emergency on 3 November 2007. Police sources stated
that up to 1500 were on a list of people to be arrested. (04/11/07)
United Kingdom: Speaking before a counter-terrorism
debate in the House of Commons, Home Secretary stated that the
government has not decided how
long police should be able to hold terrorism suspects without
charge. There is presently a 28-day detention limit. The Conservatives
suggested a 58-day limit. (07/11/07)
United Kingdom:
Sri Lankan Colonel Karuna – the head of a LTTE breakaway
group Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TVMP) accused of severe
human rights violations – was arrested in the UK in a joint
operation between the newly-created Border and Immigration Agency
and the Metropolitan police. He was arrested for travelling
on a false passport. Human rights groups demanded an investigation
into war crimes allegations. The Home Office said if appropriate
they would refer the case to the Metropolitan Police for criminal
action. (02/11/07)
Namibia:
The lawyer for an accused facing rape charges claimed that police
tortured his client to induce a confession. (06/11/07)
Pakistan: Police
emboldened by state of emergency powers arrested hundreds of activists
and opposition members and placing them in custody in government
buildings and barbed-wire compounds. (04/11/07)
Pakistan: The High Court of Sindh (SHC) demanded
that investigations police bring a suspect before the Karachi
division of the Anti-Terrorism Court after hearing a constitutional
petition challenging the legality of his detention. He alleges
that the police tortured him and forced him to confess he
belonged to a criminal gang. (01/11/07)
South Africa: The Institute for Security Studies
hosted a conference
considering policing in South Africa with topics of debate
including the proposed restructure of the police service and the
impact of Community Police Forums (CPFs) on police accountability.
(01/11/07)
Uganda: More allegations have emerged of torture
by the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Ugandan police, formerly
the Violent Crimes Crack Unit (VCCU). The victim alleges to have
been transferred to a secret police cells without food until a
human rights group located him. Earlier this year the RRU were
condemned by Amnesty International for the torture of over forty
individuals held in incommunicado detention in August. (01/11/07)
United Kingdom: London
police have been found guilty over the lethal shooting of Brazilian
Jean Charles de Menezes, mistaken for a suicide bomber, in
2005. The Office of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
have been found guilty of the single charge of breaching health
and safety rules which require it to protect the public. The Independent
Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will be publishing a report
on the incident. (01/11/07)
India: Police
in Kochi are taking part in a “Global Police Station Visit”
week organised by an international organisation, Altus Global
Alliance. Aiming to improve public safety and justice with an
emphasis on police accountability, the public were asked to visit
their local police stations and assess the service. The organisations
states that, last
year, 471 stations in 23 countries were selected for “identifying
good practices in use and strengthening the accountability of
police to the public.” (01/11/07)
India: A fact-finding report by the Andhra Pradesh
Minority Commission has been given to the government detailing
the frightening torture techniques of the Special Investigation
Team (SIT) of the Hyderabad police. The SIT has been investigating
the August bombings that took place in the southern Indian city.
Over one hundred suspects have allegedly been arrested and detained
in isolation and the police have reportedly carried our midnight
raids and arrests. (01/11/07)
Fiji: Calls
have been made for the Anti-Corruption
Commission to be properly independent from the police department.
Also in Fiji, charges of murder
and assault have been laid by the DPP against eight soldiers and
a police officer implicated in the murder of a 19-year-old
who dies in military custody last January. Local rights groups
have congratulated the DPP for its independence. (01/11/07)
Australia: The Crimes Act in the state of Victoria
has allowed anti-corruption
police officers (from the Office of Police Integrity) to use assumed
identities when investigating police corruption. Also in Victoria,
the State Premier
John Brumby continues to oppose the set-up of an anti-police corruption
body, stating that the Office of Police Integrity is adequate.
This is in contrast to federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd who has
stated that independent anti-corruption commissions are crucial.
(31/10/07)
Canada:
The recent death of a man subdued by the RCMP using taser guns
has prompted renewed
calls for an independent civilian agency to investigate civilian
police-related deaths from the British Columbia Civil Liberties
Association. (30/10/07)
Pakistan: At a meeting of the National Public
Safety Commission (NPSC), current Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz expressed urged for the establishment of
a credible system of police accountability and has directed
all chief ministers to implement the Police Order 2002, especially
those sections relating to the fixing of three-year terms for
district police officers and station officers. (31/10/07)
Sri Lanka:
The Special
Rapporteur on Torture visited from 1 to 8 October to “assess
the situation of torture and ill-treatment in the country [by
both police and security forces and non-government forces including
the LTTE], and to strengthen a process of sustained cooperation
with the Government to assist it in its efforts to improve the
administration of justice.” He concluded that torture is
widely practiced in Sri Lanka, also visiting police stations and
receiving detainees’ first hand accounts of torture. Although
some accountability mechanisms are in place they are not functioning
to the best of their ability and there needs to be independent
and effective mechanisms to make regular surprise visits to all
places of detention in Sri Lanka, conduct private interviews with
detainees and medically examine them. He believes this is the
most effective way to prevent torture. (29/10/07)
India: Two
Kerala Armed Police officers
were suspended for the torture of four people. (29/10/07)
United Kingdom: Human rights groups in Scotland
have collected evidence on the role of Scottish airports in rendition
flights and given it to the Crown office for investigation. Groups
have been calling out for the Scottish government agree on an
“anti-rendition”
policy banning the transportation of terrorism suspects from
the airport to places where they may be tortured. (28/10/07)
Australia: Civil liberties groups
have slammed new
surveillance laws in the state of NSW giving police greater powers
to install, monitor and retrieve a range of surveillance devices.
NSW Council for Civil Liberties said the laws
“remove police accountability and could lead to an abuse
of power”. (25/10/07)
Pakistan: Rising complaints of police
brutality and lawlessness resulted in the suspension of four
policemen by Inspector General of Punjab Police Ahmad Nasim in
Lahore. (25/10/07)
Bangladesh:
Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) prepared to introduce a complaints mechanism,
whereby victims can lodge complaints of police harassment to deputy
police commissioners and illegal arrests will be punished. Additionally,
the DMP plans to hold a motivational training workshop addressing
the issue of harassment for 23,500 uniformed and 804 civilian
force members. (24/10/07)
Kenya: Kenya
police denied carrying out extra-judicial killings of alleged
members of the outlawed Mungiki sect after allegations were made
by the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR). (24/10/07)
Pakistan:
Chief
Justice Chaudhry of the Supreme Court declared the deployment
of plain clothes police officers illegal. On the same day
a judge ordered nine police
officials misusing their powers in the illegal detention and torture
of an under trial prisoner near Islamabad be brought before the
court. (24/10/07)
Pakistan: In the investigation into the Karachi
bomb blasts killing almost 140 people, Former Prime Minister Benezir
Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party requested
the removal of a Deputy Inspector General of Police from the investigation
because he was present in 1999 when her husband was almost killed
by police torture. (21/10/07)
India: criticism
was levelled at police
playing an indirect role by standing mute at scenes of “street
justice” while mobs carried out attacks. (19/10/07)
Malaysia:
In an unprecedented landmark case, a
former detainee under the Internal Security Act was awarded damages
of RM2.5 million (US$740,000) in a suit filed against the police
and government in 1998. The judge held that his arrest and 57
days in detention were unlawful because they were done in bad
faith and for political purposes, rather than for any reason of
national security. (19/10/07)
Nigeria: A team of police
reportedly opened fire on a young man peacefully celebrating
in the Eid El-Fitri festival. (19/10/07)
Australia:
An inquiry by the Crime
and Misconduct Commission into the policing of indigenous communities
in far north Queensland was commenced. There have been numerous
allegations of police brutality in indigenous communities. (18/10/07)
India: The Andhra Pradesh Minorities Commission
in Hyderabad has listed at least twenty
Muslims tortured by police during terrorism investigations.
(17/10/07)
Australia:
A counter-terrorism conference
with a focus on counter-terrorism policing and culturally diverse
communities was held in Melbourne. (16/10/07)
Botswana: At a police workshop in Gaborone,
a former
police commissioner called for police supervisors to take responsibility
in reducing police corruption, with an emphasis on training
and education for public officers in addition to oversight mechanisms.
(16/10/07)
Uganda:
A new Human Rights Watch report identified serious
human rights violations in the law enforcement functions of the
Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) in the Karamoja
region. (16/10/07)
New Zealand:
Hundreds of armed
New-Zealand police were involved in large-scale anti-terrorism
raids in Northern New Zealand. If charged under New Zealand’s
Terrorism Suppression Act, it will be the first
time NZ’s counter-terrorism laws have been used. The
raids have been met
with criticism. (15/10/07)
Canada:
Three Canadian Muslims alleging they were tortured in a Syrian
Prison as a result of faulty information from Canadian authorities,
called
for the Government to make public the closed-door federal inquiry
into their allegations. (12/10/07)
Canada: a national conference held by the Canadian
Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement looked at
a shift
towards more independent police complaints investigations.
(11/10/07)
Northern Ireland:
The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Office released an independent
report over the first man to be fatally shot by the Police Service
of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan criticised
the operation but accepted the shooting was justified. (11/10/07)
South Africa:
The torture
and death of suspects in police custody was reported in Mpumalanga.
Despite reports to the contrary, the Police Commissioner claimed
that the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) is investigating.
(11/10/07)
Australia: An annual report by the Office of
Police Integrity (OPI) asserted that there are a small number
of influential
corrupt police officers in the Victorian police linked to
organised crime. (10/10/07)
Canada: The Canadian
army mentored and trained the army and police in Afghanistan
to assist them in taking over their own security. (10/10/07)
Guyana: Local news called into question the
ability the International Policing Advisor for Latin America and
the Caribbean, Superintendent Paul Morisetti, to implement
the Security Sector Reform Action Plan that followed the August
signing of a security cooperation agreement between Guyana and
Britain. Elements of the plan are improved police operational
capacity and improved parliamentary oversight of the police. (10/10/07)
Zimbabwe:
A human rights group released a report
describing routine instances of violence, torture and sexual abuse
of women by Zimbabwean police and security forces based on
quantitative data collected from 2000 to 2007. (10/10/07)
Uganda: Over one
thousand armed counter-terrorism Special Police Constables were
deployed in Kampala in the lead up to the November Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting. (09/10/07)
Zimbabwe:
A spokesperson
for the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) was released on
bail after six days in police custody and charged with being
a criminal nuisance after the police alleged he was undermining
police authority by publicly describing police as President Mugabe’s
dogs in advocating for constitutional guarantees of police
accountability. The NCA claim the police denied him food and legal
representation in custody. (09/10/07)
Kenya: Anti-Terrorism
Police Unit Commander, Nicholas Kamwende, appeared in the High
Court, summoned to explain the whereabouts of three individuals
arrested in relation to a terrorism investigation who have been
missing since July. He denied knowing their whereabouts despite
claims that they had been deported to Ethiopia. (09/10/07)
UK: A police
officer involved in the 2005 anti-terrorism operation in the death
of Brazilian Jean de Menezes described the events to the London
court in a prosecution of the metropolitan police under health
and safety laws. (08/10/07)
Jamaica:
There have been allegations
of police killings and brutality in the poor inner city communities
of Kingston. (06/10/07)
UK: A court is hearing charges
against the Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police under health
and safety laws over the police
errors that led to the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles
de Menezes in a 2005 anti-terrorism operation. (5/10/07)
Canada: The Canadian Supreme
Court ruled 6-3 that police are not immune from liability and
can be sued for conducting investigation negligently. Lawyers
labelled the decision a landmark for police accountability that
has the potential to significantly change the way police conduct
investigations. (04/10/07)
India: At a conference of Indian Police Directors
and Inspectors General, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh called for the creation of a more effective
intelligence apparatus to focus on security threats in India.
He stated: "We
need better police forces - better in all senses - be it training,
be it skills, be it equipment, be it resources, be it mobility
or be it attitudes. We need superior intelligence capabilities…
Terrorism has become a global phenomenon of our times… We
need to go far beyond conventional responses in facing the severe
terrorist threats." (04/10/07)
Pakistan: In the aftermath of the police crackdown
protests in Islamabad on 29 September where numerous lawyers,
journalists and activist were injured when police used batons
and tear gas, Islamabad’s
Chief of Police was arrested and suspended under a court order
given by Chief Justice Chaudhry. In a Supreme Court hearing to
investigate the police brutality during the protests, Chaudhry
also called for the suspension
the city’s deputy administration chief and another senior
police officer. The protests
were against the decision to allow President Musharraf to stand
for re-election for another 5-year-term. (01/10/07)
Guyana: Police
in Guyana were accused of torturing two people during a joint
services operation. The Government denied allegations levelled
against them that torturing is a new crime fighting and law enforcement
tactic the government wanted the Guyana Police Force to introduce.
The opposition party PNCR strongly criticised the security forces’
treatment of the men. These allegations came one year after a
recommendation
from the UN Committee against Torture that Guyana should take
"effective steps to guarantee the accountability of the Guyana
Police Force and, to this effect, carry out prompt, impartial
and effective investigations, try the perpetrators of acts of
abuse and, when convicted, impose appropriate sentences and adequately
compensate the victims". (01/10/07)
Nigeria:
A police
officer has been arrested for torturing a person to death
who was in police custody for attempting to steal a jerry can
of palm oil. (27/09/07)
South Africa: A
warrant was reportedly issued for the arrest of South Africa’s
controversial National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi for
ties to crime syndicates. He has long come under harsh criticism
for failing to reduce one of the worlds highest crime rates. (27/09/07)
Guyana: UK
security experts are in Guyana to commence work on a British funded
police reform plan. The action plan aims to share best practices
and help strengthen the Guyana Police Force in order to respond
better to serious crime and enhance public participation on security
issues in the country. (27/09/07)
Kenya: Kenya’s anti-terrorism
police chief will be questioned by the High Court on his knowledge
of secret renditions of terrorism suspects (from Kenya to
Somalia to Ethiopia and finally to secret US detention facilities)
on 8 October. (25/09/07)
Pakistan: a court has ordered
First Information Reports (FIRs) from police
officers accused of illegally arresting and torturing people
in the south-central city of Khairpur. (21/09/07)
Australia: Australian David
Hicks has had his first interview with Australian Federal Police
since his return from Guantanamo Bay – where he was
detained for five and a half years and in March pleaded guilty
to providing material support to terrorism before a US military
commission hearing. Hicks is due to be released from the maximum
security prison in December. (20/09/07)
New Zealand: Legislation allowing
for the establishment
of an independent police conduct authority has been passed
through Parliament, receiving royal assent. It has been described
as a “significant event in the history of civilian oversight
of policing in New Zealand”. (20/09/07)
Australia: Despite evidence linking Victorian
police to gangland murders and corruption and misconduct in the
police drug squad, the Premier of Victoria has not
supported calls for the formation of an independent Royal Commission
into police corruption. Three other Australian states have
established anti-corruption watchdog bodies. (20/09/07)
India: Muslim groups in Hyderabad have complained
that Muslim
youths have been the subject of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention
and instances of torture by police in the aftermath of the
Hyderabad bomb blasts which killed 44 people in August. The police
denied the claims. (20/09/07)
Australia: Calls have been made for an independent
inquiry into policing during the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum summit,
held in Sydney, Australia, last week, following claims of police
misconduct. Seven complaints
of misconduct have been lodged with the NSW Ombudsman. The
NSW
Police Commissioner described public complaints against police
officers as red tape reducing efficiency and stated that he
aims to reduce the number of complaints made to the force’s
Professional Standards Command and the Police Integrity Commission.
This statement has met opposition with a Greens MP and Police
Spokesperson stating that “A robust public complaints system
is absolutely essential to reducing Police corruption and keeping
NSW Police accountable to the public it is supposed to serve…
The APEC
security measures were the most authoritarian display of Police
powers in this city in recent memory. We must not allow that
sort of oppressive policing to become an accepted part of living
in NSW.” (19/09/07)
Britain: The Northern
Ireland Police Ombudsman has issued a report
strongly criticising police in Northern Ireland for mishandling
serious death threats made against prominent human rights lawyer
Rosemary Nelson, who after a career handling a number of high
profile IRA and nationalist cases, was murdered eight years ago
when a bomb was planted under her car. (19/9/07)
Kenya: The High Court in Nairobi has ruled in
favour of human rights groups claiming the Commandant of the Kenyan
Anti-Terrorism Police Unit had admitted sending hundreds of suspected
terrorists to Ethiopia and US secret detention facilities.
The judge has given the Commander two weeks to appear and explain
the secret detentions or a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
This is the first time a court has ordered police to explain secret
detentions. (18/09/07)
Zimbabwe: Members of a human rights group have
complained of brutal
arrest while taking part in a peaceful march in Harare to oppose
police brutality and assault while in police custody. In another
case, a 64-year-old protester
died from injuries sustained from police during a public demonstration
in June calling for a new constitution. She reportedly suffered
severe fractures to her chest after being arrested and brutalised
with other protesters at the Harare Central Police Station. (17/09/07)
Canada: The British Columbia Civil Liberties
Association has called on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canada’s
federal police organisation) to implement an
independent civilian body to investigate custodial deaths,
in response to the high number of custodial deaths in August.
The current B.C. Police Complaint Commissioner does not have the
legal authority to investigate custodial deaths and the Commission
for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has not commenced an investigation.
(14/09/2007)
New Zealand:
Protesters demonstrating against a proposed NZ-US free trade agreement
were subject
to police violence; protestors approaching the venue of a
US-NZ Partnership Forum meeting were punched in the face, a number
of other protestors were beaten, and three were arrested. (12/09/07)
UK: A man charged and later acquitted of domestic
violence has claimed that police investigating a claim against
him were not prepared to accept the possibility of his innocence.
A police spokesperson said that he is entitled to make a complaint
to the Independent
Police Complaints Commission. (12/09/07)
Bahamas:
The Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA) has called for
a Human Rights Act in Bahamas. The Association President said
that rights require remedies and that there is also a need for
a human
rights ombudsman or a human rights commissioner. This position
would allow members of the public to log claims against government
agents (including the police). (11/09/07)
Nigeria: The Presidential Candidate of the African
Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged a dramatic increase
in funding allocations to state security institutions. (11/09/07)
UK: Neil
Wain, a chief superintendent with Greater Manchester Police, has
questioned
the use of anti-social behaviour orders. He argued that the
orders fail to control behaviour while criminalising juvenile
offenders. (11/09/07)
Ghana: An alleged victim of police brutality
has claimed that the
Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau of the Ghana
Police Service is not taking any action on his complaint.
The Bureau responded that investigations are underway. (05/09/07)
Trinidad and Tobago: Members of a Parent Teacher
Association holding a demonstration against substandard school
facilities have claimed
protestors were subject to police brutality. (05/09/07)
UK: An appeal
judge has overturned a 1982 conviction for rape and murder. The
judge ruled that confessions
had been obtained by police through intimidation and noted
that alternative evidence in the case was weak. (31/08/07)
India:
One person was killed and fifty injured in clashes
between police and protesters. Protestors were demonstrating
after a truck killed four Muslims attending a religious ceremony
in Agra. An MP blamed police and administration for the violence
and claimed police negligence. He stated that police were slow
to react and that too few officers were deployed. (30/08/07)
Nigeria: A man was
shot in the leg at a police check point during an argument between
police and the victim. The report claims the argument centred
around the victim’s failure to follow an officer’s
instructions. The man was immediately taken to hospital by police.
(29/08/07)
India: Video footage of a mob beating, followed
by police
officers chaining the victim to their motorcycle and dragging
him until the chain snapped have been aired on national television.
The officers involved have been suspended. (28/08/07)
Canada: Public Safety Minister
Stockwell Day has defended
the use of undercover police officers at a protest during
the North American Free Trade Agreements’ leaders’
summit in Quebec. He has said that the undercover agents were
exposed when they refused to participate in violence. (24/08/07)
India: The Indian Supreme Court dismissed petitions
from State governments seeking a review of a 2006 order setting
out a number of directions on police
reform. (24/08/07)
South Africa: A South African woman has claimed
she was assaulted
in custody by a police officer. (20/08/07)
Bangladesh:
The city police force has been allocated $16 million by the United
Nations Development Programme to undergo a
police reform program. Crime scene investigation will be one
emphasis of the programme. (19/08/07)
Pakistan: At the National Public Safety Commission’s
15th meeting the Commission stressed the need for empowering the
Provincial
and District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commissions
in handling public complaints against the police. (18/08/07)
Uganda:
The Ugandan gay community appealed for acceptance in Uganda, stating
they face regular abuse
by the police. (17/08/07)
India: The National Human Rights Commission
issued a notice to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh to investigate
the fake
encounter that was reported on television. Soon after the
Chief Minister of the State asked the Crime Investigation Department
to probe over the matter. (16/08/07)
Bangladesh: A roundtable discussion was held
on the Bangladesh Draft Police Ordinance 2007 on Saturday 11 August.
The writer argues for an independent
police complaints commission and the necessity of including
independent members drawn from other sections of society. (14/08/07)
Zimbabwe:
Student leader Clever Bere was severely tortured
in police detention before being released on bail. Bere is
facing charges of destroying university property earlier this
year. (10/08/07)
India: The former Director General of Police
in Jharkhand, J.B. Mahapatra, challenged
his transfer, arguing that there is a fixed tenure of two
years as a Director General, under a 2006 a Supreme Court order.
(10/08/07)
United Kingdom: For the first time since its
creation, IPCC
investigators have arrested and charged a police officer under
powers granted by the Police Reform Act 2002. A former police
sergeant has been charged with indecently assaulting male and
female colleagues over a five-year period while he was on duty.
(08/08/07)
India: A new Assam Police Bill 2007 was introduced
in the Assam state Assembly. The Bill creates a
Police Accountability Commission and a State Security Commission.
The Police Accountability Commission will be chaired by a retired
High Court judge and the State Security Commission will be led
by the Chief Minister. (06/08/07)
India: The
High
Court dismissed charges against police officers accused of manipulating
an investigation in the Jessica Lall case. A Special Investigation
Team found that the officers under investigation had not committed
any criminal acts. (03/08/07)
India: The Gujarat Assembly has passed the Bombay
Police (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2007, which sets minimum
tenure for Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police,
separation of investigation wing from and law and order functions
and the establishment of a state security commission. (20/07/07)
South Africa: In North Durban, a police
officer fatally shot four heavily armed men who were trying to
hijack his vehicle. The men opened fire and the officer called
for assistance. Officers returned fire. Two of the men escaped.
(05/07/07)
Pakistan:
A
large number of complaints about police officers have been made
during an open court held by the Inspector General of Police in
Lahore. Among the complaints were allegations that officers
protected the accused rapists of a 13 year-old girl, harbored
alleged murderers, and stole the land of a laborer. The court
was in session for 10 hours and received over 400 applications.
Special branch inspectors are investigating the claims. (05/07/07)
Canada: A Royal
Canadian Mounted Police Constable and two other officers pepper-sprayed
a number of adults, children, and an infant in an attempt to break
up a traditional soccer procession. The Constable tried to
stop a truck with teenagers standing in the back. When the truck
did not stop, the Constable resorted to the use of pepper spray.
Three police officers then sprayed a crowd of people watching
the procession. During a town meeting, the RCMP commented that
the officer was new to the force and did not know about the procession
tradition. A Police Commission complaint is in the process of
being filed. (04/07/07)
Kenya: A
Kenyan
police report has stated that 11 officers were killed in June
during operations related to the Mungiki sect. Media reports
peg related civilian deaths during this period at 112 people.
There have been 3,379 arrests of suspected Mungiki members. Human
rights groups say the government is using excessive force during
operations. (04/07/07)
Nigeria: The Police
Equipment Foundation has plans to build 450,000 police housing
units by 2011. The Foundation has a USD $150 million credit
line for the projectand will buy armored personnel carriers, patrol
helicopters, Citation X jets, body amours, communication equipment
and close circuit televisions. (04/07/07)
United Kingdom:
The Independent
Police Complaints Commission has criticised the South Wales Police
Force for many failures during an investigation of the rape of
a man by an unknown assailant. There were 18 recommendations
relating to individual officers, the police organisation as a
whole, and the medical examiner. The investigation remains open.
(04/07/07)
United Kingdom: The
United Kingdom has added over 6,000 armed police officers to the
streets in the aftermath of foiled terrorist attacks on 7
July. The officers are tightening security at sporting venues
and shopping centers and conducting checks on commuters. (04/07/07)
Australia:
A
group of indigenous Australian women have alleged that police
pepper-sprayed and kicked a member of their community on Friday
29 June. Police say that they acted in self-defense when the
woman became violent and deny kicking her in the ribs. Acting
Superintendent Michael Murphy says that an investigation has not
been initiated since no formal complaint has been filed. (03/07/07)
India: An Inspector
in the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has been granted seven days
police remand by the Ahmedabad Metropolitan Court. The Inspector
absconded for over two months and is wanted for questioning in
an investigation into an alleged fake encounter incident. (03/07/07)
Trinidad and Tobago:
Police
have said that they killed a man wanted for murder as they attempted
to serve him a search warrant in his home. The man allegedly
fired at a group of officers as they surrounded his home. The
officers fired back and he died on his way to the hospital. Officials
say that they have begun an inquiry into the incident. (03/07/07)
United Kingdom: The Independent
Police Complaints Commission has said that there is no evidence
of misconduct in the fatal police shooting of a man who held
a gun-shaped lighter to an officer’s neck in 2001. The Court
of Appeal ruled that the shooting was lawful. The police officers
involved will not face disciplinary action. (03/07/07)
Cameroon:
The Justice Minister has said that police
killed 11 prison-escapees after a gun battle on Thursday 28 June.
According to the Minister, 28 prisoners stole weapons and attacked
a military police post, before attempting to run away. The Minister
said that those killed fired on police and the police fired back
in self defense. (02/07/07)
Fiji: The
Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has told the relatives
of three alleged victims of police brutality to file a complaint
with the Police Commissioner, the Director of Public Prosecutions
or the Ombudsman. The three victims died in police custody
on different occasions. The autopsy reports of two of the victims
show extensive head trauma and internal injuries. (02/07/07)
India: There
are allegations
that police participated in cover up of an alleged murder.
The bodies of a newly-married couple were found dead. Allegedly,
the couple were killed by a community group who believed that
a traditional family classification system rendered them brother
and sister. The family of the couple says that police offered
little assistance and cremated the bodies after declaring the
couple to be destitute. (02/07/07)
India: Two Bandra police
officers face a departmental inquiry because they filed a theft
report 15 days after the initial claim had been made. After
the accused was arrested on 31 May, it was discovered that the
two officers had a relationship with the accused. (02/07/07)
Kenya: On
Sunday 1 July the
General Service Unit and regular police killed seven suspected
members of the Mungiki sect who were taking a ceremonial oath.
The police found weapons and Mungiki paraphernalia during the
raid. No arrests were made and police are searching for suspected
members who escaped with bullet wounds. (02/07/07)
Malaysia: The Prime
Minister has extended the contract of the head of police, Inspector-General
Tan Sri Musa Hassan. The police head was due for mandatory
retirement in September based on police regulations. The Prime
Minister says that this move will help stem corruption, decrease
crime and increase cooperation between the community and the police.
(02/07/07)
Nigeria:
The Inspector
General of Police, Mike Okiro, has restructured 35 senior police
positions following promises to fight corruption within the
police organisation. (02/07/07)
United Kingdom: In an effort to meet national
goals related to neighborhood policing, the
Basingstoke Chief Inspector has initiated many reforms, including
the creation of neighborhood panels and the appointment of police
community support officers. The panels will meet quarterly
to discuss the crimes that residents would like police to solve.
Police community support officers will link communities to police
stations. (02/07/07)
India: The
Administrative
Reforms Commission has just announced that women should have at
least a 33 percent representation in all levels of police,
to combat crimes against women. The fifth report by the Administrative
Reforms Commission highlighted many concerns, including the facts
that women represent less than two percent of the civil police
force, and the prevalence of high levels of domestic violence
in communities. The report also recommended gender sensitivity
training. (01/07/07)
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