Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

It would appear that police abuse is steadily getting out of control in western Jamaica, as officials at the Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) in Montego Bay say they are being swamped by reports of lawmen infringing on the rights of citizens.

"The situation is most frightening," said a spokesperson at the authority. "There are times when we get as many as 10 complaints in one day, and most of the times the cases involve personnel from the special squads, and a unit out of Kingston."

Officer in charge unaware

However, when the matter was brought to the attention of Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake, the officer in charge of Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, and Westmoreland, he said that he was unaware of the situation. "This is all news to me. I am hearing about it for the first time," he said. "I will be speaking to the PPCA because I will not tolerate any such situation under my command."

While noting that people who feel the police have wronged them usually feel more comfortable going to the independent PPCA, ACP Blake said his office would be happy to accommodate such persons. "We have systems in place to deal with police personnel who abuse the rights of citizens," he emphasised. "This is an organisation that operates within the law so there is no room for those who will seek to operate outside the law."

Last year, there was a much-publicised case of systematic police abuse in Montego Bay by an Anti-Harassment Unit working closely with the Jamaica Tourist Board on the Second City's 'Hip Strip'.

A number of craft vendors and other locals were reportedly arbitrarily picked up by members of the unit, then transported to the Montego Freeport Police Station, where they were photographed, and had their personal information taken before being released without being charged.