KINGSTON, Jamaica — Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green yesterday denied claims made by Superintendent Michael Phipps that he had instructed police officers carrying out investigation in Tivoli Gardens after the May 2010 operation not to record anything unless they were absolutely sure.

Superintendent Phipps, during his testimony last November, told the enquiry that Green had given him that instruction when asked about records relating to the investigations.

But this was denied by Green in his testimony yesterday via video link from the Ukraine. 

“I certainly did not. Not only did I not give instructions to Mr Phipps, I certainly would not have given those instructions to anybody at anytime,” he said during his evidence in chief led by head of the Independent Commission of Investigations Terrence Williams.

Added Green: “It goes categorically against everything I believe in, everything I’ve been trained to do, everthing I instilled in the officers I served within the Jamaica Constabulary Force [when I challenged] some previously poor methods and conducts that were taking place, and he and certainly other officers will be well aware of my stance in such situation.”

The retired assistant commissioner said neither was he aware of any such directive being given to anyone and only learnt about it after reading the transcript of Superintendent Phipps’ testimony.

The commission of enquiry, which will resume today at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston, will start hearing final submissions from the lawyers.

Tanesha Mundle