MINISTER OF National Security Dr. Peter Philips on Tuesday revealed that the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) has completed investigations into just over half the cases of police shootings brought to its attention in the last six years.
Dr. Phillips said that, of the 2,109 cases of police shooting investigated by the BSI since its inception in 1999, 1,175 have been completed and sent to the Director of Pubic Prosecution (DPP) for a ruling.
But according to the National Security Minister, the DPI has since forwarded just over 500 cases to the courts with only four convictions.
Dr. Phillips was responding to questions tabled in the House of Representatives by his Opposition counterpart Derrick Smith.
He had requested detailed information regarding the operational efficiency of the BSI.
"What I can say is that 525 cases were referred to the courts by the DPP," Dr. Phillips said. "No doubt there are a number of those cases in the process within the courts. I am unable at this point to say how many of those cases are within the courts but I can also say that, of the files referred over the period, only four were referred back by the DPP for additional information to be forthcoming."
MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
He said more advanced technology would be introduced to improve the investigative capacity of the BSI.
The Bureau was established on July 1, 1999 to investigate all cases of shooting by the police. Currently, according to the National Security Minister, 23 investigators are permanently assigned to the body.
They are required to respond to and initiate all investigations within 48 hours after the police discharge a firearm.
