Government to examine police excesses

The commission to investigate police excesses will, in its initial stages, have to operate with the assistance of the police.



This is contrary to what was initially proposed by the Bruce Golding administration in its election manifesto, which called for an independent body.



For years, there have been calls for the establishment of a body comprising civilians only, to probe police killings and other offences committed by the police against Jamaicans.



The Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2009, if passed by the House of Representatives will repeal the Police Public Complaints Act of 1992.



A committee deliberating on the Independent Commission of Investigations bill today spent a long time trying to determine whether the commission, could in its developmental stage, carry out its mandate without the input of the police.



During the discussion, it was argued that the staff of the proposed independent commission would inevitably have to rely on assistance from police personnel in conducting investigations.



Committee member K.D. Knight said investigations being carried out by the commission would at some point involve ballistic tests.



Knight proposed a transition period where members of the police force would be involved in the work of the commission.



Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne explained that the commission would be interacting with the forensic department and other departments of the force.



She, however, insisted that persons who would be employed to the commission could not be members of the force.