FOLLOWING a Sunday Observer exposé on the conditions of some police lock-ups across the Corporate Area, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang has indicated that he is aware of less than satisfactory conditions at three police lock-ups but these are not among the two named by the Observer.

“The three stations I am aware of that have problems are under repairs,” said Chang as he pointed to the Central Police Station, Admiral Town Police Station and Olympic Gardens Police Station.

“We have moved detainees from Central to Tamarind Farm [Adult Correctional Centre]; that should be finished in a couple of weeks. Admiral Town is also due for fixing now… I think they need some additional procurement. And at Olympic Gardens there is a plumbing problem. They are being dealt with,” added Chang.

He said he receives the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) reports on the state of lock-ups on a monthly basis and, “I do read them and they do a pretty good job on the stations’ conditions”.

The Sunday Observer highlighted complaints of four men who had been held in lock-ups at Denham Town and Hunt’s Bay police stations in the west Kingston and St Andrew South police divisions, respectively.

The men shared similar tales, lamenting that they have no toilets, stoop over holes to defecate, and stand in faeces when showering.

But Chang finds these reports hard to believe.

“The conditions described in Denham Town couldn’t be correct,” declared Chang.

“Denham Town has a few excess in numbers [detainees] because Admiral Town is closed until it is fixed — Denham Town and Hunt’s Bay — but they have very excellent senior officers and they have indicated that they manage the place. I’m sure they would allow us to take a look,” Chang continued.

The security minister added that he believes in the management of Senior Superintendent Kirk Ricketts, commanding officer for the St Andrew South Police Division, and Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps, commanding officer for Kingston Western Police Division.

“I have two senior officers for those stations who I have a lot of confidence in. I’m sure PCOA will look at it but I have every confidence in Superintendent Phipps and Superintendent Ricketts. They are two fine officers who I am sure will report what is happening.”

In the meantime at least two lawyers supported the claims of the poor conditions at some Corporate Area police lock-ups.

Attorney-at-law Alexander Shaw told the Observer that the situation across the Corporate Area needs urgent attention.

“They have an abhorrent malodour. Denham Town, Central, Hunt’s Bay, Half-Way Tree — which are the more populated ones — all smell that way. The COVID-19 period helped to ease the unpleasant odour as we were forced to wear masks. So now that the mask is not mandatory, it’s just overbearing. The lock-up design is nothing short of a pigsty. The stench of raw faeces, poor ventilation, the extreme hotness and overcrowding are unbearable,” alleged Shaw.

“And it is nothing new; I complained about this same issue back in 2019. We really need to do something about this. This is not the best we can do in a civilised society,” added Shaw as he argued that the situation becomes more troubling when consideration is given to the fact that not all individuals who end up in police lock-ups are guilty.

“Not all detainees are in lock-up for murder or any heinous crime. If you are arrested for any reason and have to spend a night in custody, you will have to endure these conditions. I find that [police] officers who work in these environments are usually frustrated and the anger is meted out to those who they have to deal with, including attorneys. And it is understandable because their working environment is unpleasant,” added Shaw whose claims were echoed by attorney-at-law Kemar Setal.

“I have experienced being at the Denham Town Police Station lock-up, taking instructions from my client, and thankfully, I was wearing mask — but that did not assist me with the stench of faeces coming from inside the lock-up. Also, I have had this same experience at the Hunt’s Bay Police Station lock-up. I had to rush the talking of the instructions just to move from there.”

Setal said numerous clients have begged to be placed at different facilities because of unsanitary conditions.

“I can count from the top of my head four of my clients who asked me to ask the court to have them moved from the Denham Town Police Station lock-up because of the conditions there. Just [last] Thursday I had a client asking me to ask the court to not have him taken to the Denham Town Police Station lock-up if he will be remanded, as the conditions there are deplorable.

“Just imagine what the human beings in the lock-ups are experiencing, as that is where they have to call home until released. It is sad that this is the situation because there are persons at these lock-ups who are not charged with any offence and are just awaiting an identification parade or question-and-answer [session],” added Setal.