EDITORIAL - Police accountability, image need repair

In any other week, a report pointing to the lack of accountability at the island's police stations and shortcomings in handling crime evidence may have been greeted with the perfunctory shrug of the shoulder.

However, coming in a week when there are reports that some $25 million worth of gold has disappeared from the Half-Way Tree Police Station, many people have taken notice of yet another glaring example of a troubled police force whose image continues to take a beating.

It is understood that success in solving crime depends on the quality of evidence gathered, the way it is collected, the preservation of such evidence, and the way in which it is presented. It is the evidence that must link the criminal to his crime and the lack of evidence that will exonerate the innocent. But given the news reports, one can see clearly why so many cases have crumbled in our courts, leading to dismissals and a poor success rate in really clearing up crime.

In a report which was placed before Parliament this week by the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA), inspections at 45 stations revealed a catalogue of woes, including poor record keeping, incomplete records relating to the issue of firearms and ammunition, as well as shoddy collection and protection of evidence.

It is critical that crime evidence is properly collected and stored in order to ensure that justice is served in apprehending and punishing criminals. Statements which represent accounts of witnesses to a crime must also be protected, and it is distressing to learn of incomplete statements being found in various station diaries.

That some of these shortcomings were identified over the period April 2009 to March 2010 and various recommendations ignored by the Police High Command signal a lack of interest in correcting the problems and punishing those guilty of committing procedural breaches.

Transparency needed

Public oversight of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is a crucial aspect of our democracy, and any attempt to resist public scrutiny should be resisted. But even with all the agencies and personnel charged to guarantee a transparent police force, this has not really materialised.

We hope this will not deter the PCOA in its efforts to promote the principle of police accountability, which we are counting on to lead to the establishment and maintenance of a precise chain of custody of all crime evidence.

Except in the case of a confession, a criminal case depends on the validity of evidence. In light of the findings of poor record keeping, is it any surprise that critical information regarding firearm usage by police personnel can be so mired in confusion?

Against this background of lack of accountability, is it any wonder that citizens have a hard time substantiating police abuse of their powers, especially in the use of weapons?

Police corruption is nothing new and is not unique to the JCF; however, this latest report that concerns 45 stations suggests a national trend of lack of accountability.

We need a clear and strong statement from Commissioner Owen Ellington about what he intends to do to ensure a higher degree of compliance with established police protocols for record keeping and evidence gathering.

Admittedly, Mr Ellington has a loaded plate, but he cannot miss sight of the fact that greater accountability and transparency will lead to greater public trust.

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