BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN recent months, a number of persons had either personally visited or sent mails to this media house alleging abuse, discrimination and wrongful arrest by some members of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force(RSCNPF) .
Some of these allegations were published, but SKNVibes had always advised the complainants to visit the Basseterre Police Station to lodge their grievances with the Officer-in-Charge of the Complaints Department.
Few of them did.
In the interest of the complainants, SKNVibes had contacted the Commissioner of Police, Celvin ‘CG’ Walwyn, who declared that his interest is not only vested in the men and women under his command, but also civil society whom the Force is to “serve and protect and has the ethical mandates to do so without favour of affection or ill-will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or aspiration”.
He also declared that all citizens would be treated equally with courtesy, consideration and dignity, and that any member of the Force who violates the rules and regulations under which they have sworn to perform their duties, disciplinary action would be administered.
From this backdrop, Commissioner Walwyn has made public the procedures for filing complaints against officers of the RSCNPF).
“Whenever a member of the public is aggrieved by the actions of any police officer, he/she may seek redress by reporting the matter to the Complaints Department of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. This complaint can be made either in person or over the telephone.
“We strongly encourage complaints to be made personally when possible, and they can also be made at the police station in any policing district where the alleged incident occurred.
“If the complaint is made by telephone, you may call 869-465-2241 and ask to speak to the Senior Police Officer or, in his or her absence, the senior person on duty who will explain the proper procedures in order to file a complaint,” Commissioner Walwyn said.
Listed below is the process when making a complaint:
1. When a complaint is made in person, the details of the complaint will be recorded on an Incident Form and a comprehensive statement will be recorded from the virtual complainant and any witness by Senior Police Officer (SPO) or in his or her absence, the senior person on duty at the Front Desk. If made over the telephone, the details of the complaint will be taken and arrangements will be made for a comprehensive statement to be recorded.
2. Complaints in other policing Districts should be made to the police station in that District and relayed to the Complaints Office.
3. In all cases, the information recorded on the Incident Form will then be transferred onto the Complaints Against Police Officer Form and the Complaints Against Police Officer Register. Details will also be.
4. When appropriate, a Medical Form will be issued, physical evidence is gathered, and photographs may be taken. The Medical Form must be returned to the investigator after the aggrieved has been medically examined.
5. A copy of the Incident Form, completed Report Against Police Officer Form, signed written statement and all other documents collected must be submitted to the Complaints Department.
6. Complaints Department will carry out necessary investigations and keep the complainant informed at various stages of the investigation.
7. Upon completion of the investigation, the case file is presented to the Station Officer for prosecution if complaint is sustained.
8. The matter will then be brought up for trial before a Tribunal and the complainant notified that his/her presence is necessary at the proceedings.
9. The complainant will be informed about the Final Disposition of the complaint.
10. Hours of operation of the office should be 0900 hrs - 1700hrs on weekdays.
