COMMENTS of “nothing is done” when civilians report acts of wrong doing by members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) have been frowned upon by Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Simmons.
In an interview on August 27, the Deputy Commissioner stressed that reports against police officers are taken seriously by the high command of the RSVGPF, and can result, and have resulted in officers being disciplined.
He said that as the RSVGPF moves toward building a strong relationship with the public, people are encouraged to report wrong doing as the constabulary is pledging a more responsive, people-centred approach to policing.
Speaking at Central Police Station in Kingstown, Deputy Commissioner Simmons, stressed that investigations are procedural and time-consuming, and that when they are completed, both the officer involved and the complainant are informed of the findings.
In some cases, he noted, outcomes are not made public in order to protect the privacy of the parties.
Simmons also highlighted the increasing use of mediation to settle certain matters between the police and complainants. This approach, he said, was recommended by the High Court and has since become part of the Force’s strategy to improve relations between the police and the public.
He explained that mediation sessions may include lawyers, their clients, police officers, and public relations officials, and said many of these disputes have been resolved amicably around the table, with complainants often expressing satisfaction
