By Garwin Davis, Assistant News Editor
WHILE RELUCTANT to give details about a meeting he had yesterday with members of the Police Service Commission, Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips admitted that corruption within the police force was at an intolerable level.
In an interview with The Gleaner at his Old Hope Road, Kingston office, the Minister said that for the country to adequately tackle the escalating crime problem, it was critical that the police be seen in a positive light.
"We spent a whole day... a whole morning with the Police Service Commission," Dr. Phillips said. "The Commission is seriously looking at how best to preserve the integrity of the force and is currently doing its deliberations... looking at how best to proceed."
SENSITIVE NATURE
Pressed to elaborate, Dr. Phillips said he didn't want to divulge much considering the sensitive nature of the matter. He however reminded that the question of corruption within the force was not something unique, noting that Commissioner Francis Forbes has been known to transfer police officers suspected of being involved in the drug trade.
"Not only do we seriously have to address our own investigative capabilities, but also the tentacles of corrupt protection," Dr. Phillips said. "This has spread too far and wide and is an area of grave concern for me." Asked whether that included political protection, the Minister said "No, no, I am not here thinking about political protection."
He continued: "I don't think its any secret. The Commissioner has had to remove members of the force who have been arrested... some of them in relation to cocaine busts... have had to transfer people suspected of being involved in the trade. That is one layer of the problem... and there are other layers within officialdom one might say... different areas of the state that one has to look to. This is something we have to address. The integrity of the force is at stake. The Service Commission has some decision to make and in time we will see."
Corruption in the police force has been a moot topic for several years, despite efforts by government and the police high command to address the issue.
A Gleaner report in 1996 cited over 1,000 cases of police corruption being investigated. At the time, Commissioner Francis Forbes, who was only three months in the top job, described police corruption as a serious problem and one that had to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
And he had some strong words of warning. "Police officers suspected of being involved in corrupt activities will not be transferred to corrupt other officers in a new environment," Mr. Forbes said. "Instead, I am going to direct that resources be dedicated solely for investigation, prosecutions and to ensure convictions. The time has come for the crooked cops to stop tainting the reputation of the other members of the force."
Asked whether he was happy with the work of the Commissioner, Dr. Phillips stressed that "he has my full confidence."
"We have a tendency in this country to go around scapegoating people. The worst thing would be for me to start complaining about who is not doing what and start blaming other people. There must be a commonality of purpose in order for us to move forward... anything less would be demoralising for everybody."
Pressed on whether, after seven years, the country should not now be looking for another Commissioner of Police, Dr. Phillips said that was for the Police Service Commission to decide.
"They have met and the question of tenure for senior officers within the force is something that is being looked at," Dr. Phillips said. "The Commission will then make its recommendations for us to look at... that's the most I can say on the matter."
