Cops urged to be more civil with public
POLICE officers are being urged to be more civil when dealing with members of the public.
Speaking in last week’s Force Orders, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington cited a recent complaint by an inner-city social worker that two officers had acted in a crass and unprofessional manner.
The officers had reportedly used a police service vehicle to block a road and, after being asked for permission to pass by the social worker, emerged from the vehicle with gun in hand and challenged the individual to move the car.
“It is the sworn duty of every member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to treat all persons with proper respect for the rights of all,” Ellington said.
He reminded the officers not to take justice in their own hands where a citizen has committed an offence, but instead act within their jurisdiction.
“Considerations should be given to the treatment meted out to offending citizens, where no offence was committed against the individual policeman or woman but against the state. Where an offence is committed against the JCF then the same should be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice,” said Ellington.
Jamaicans have long complained that some members of the constabulary have been crass in their dealings with the public, and such behaviour has only served to drive a wedge between the police and the public they are sworn to serve, reassure and protect.
Ellington further reminded cops to conduct themselves in a respectable manner when addressing the public.
“When members of the public come in contact with the police, the police are expected to conduct themselves with decorum. Be polite in all areas of your contact with members of the public, do not use words such as aunt, uncle, big man or boy to address persons that you interact with, it’s uncivil, disrespectful and unprofessional and must cease,” he said.
He reinforced the need for JCF’s members to be respectful as it is the organisation’s policy.
“Members must be respectful to all persons they come in contact with irrespective of age, class and status. It is the policy of the JCF that adult males be addressed as Sir, young males as young man, adult females be addressed as Miss or their respective title if known,” Ellington said.
The commissioner also asked officers to be mindful of citizens constitutional rights with regard to freedom of movement and freedom from arbitrary search.
“Enshrined in the constitution of Jamaica is the protection of certain fundamental rights of the citizens to include but not limited to the right of freedom of movement and freedom from arbitrary search,” he said.
Ellington said all Jamaicans are entitled to these rights, but certain circumstances such as defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health, as stated in the constitution may cause these rights to be suspended.
He said it is policy of the JCF for members to conduct their duties and responsibilities with integrity and transparency consistent with the ethical standards of the force. He urged members of the JCF to adhere to its Code of Ethics as practices which are unethical will damage the reputation of the organisation.
“Only ethical practices in gathering evidence will be appreciated and considered in the investigative process, and only professional conduct of members will be accepted. The JCF is committed to the prevention of unprofessional and unethical conduct of its members, as such the image of the organisation and its reputation will be preserved through professional service delivery at every point of contact with citizens,” Ellington said.
He reminded cops to be courteous when approaching any member of the public.
Said Ellington: “It is important to remember that the treatment delivered oftentimes determine the reaction received, your approach in most cases determines the reaction of the person you accost in the public thoroughfare.”