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Police say there is no excuse for arbitrary detention beyond 72 hours

Oct 24, 2011 News

There is no excuse for holding prisoners beyond the stipulated time frame without recourse to the High Court.
This is according to the Guyana Police Force in response to an article published by this paper under the caption “Public lashes out at Police Force for perceived abuse of authority”.
The article particularly spoke of the issue of the prolonged detention of persons by the police beyond 72 hours. A release from the Police Public Relations Department said that the Force is cognizant of the stipulated 72-hour detention period and is fully aware of the negative impact the issue has had on the organization.
The police said that Divisional and Branch Commanders are fully aware of the requirements in this respect.
According to the police, when persons are detained, they are supposed to be advised by the Commanders of detention period.
The public and other concerned persons are advised by the Force that when such an issue comes up where a prisoner’s rights are being jeopardized, it should be immediately reported.
The Force has assured that prompt action would be taken, which entails an investigation into the prolonged apprehension of the detained person.
Citizens are also reminded that in the event of discontentment regarding the extended detention, they can approach the Courts by way of Habeas Corpus for redress.
This, the force says is a means of protecting an individual from being harmed by the judicial system.
Complaints can also be made to the Divisional Commander or Office of the Commissioner of Police in an effort to correct the injustice that may have been done against them.
The GPF was brought under scrutiny after attorneys, prisoners, family members of prisoners and other concerned persons had spoken out against the unlawful act of detaining a person beyond the stipulated 72-hour period.
The issue was raised several times in the Magistrates’ Court where lawyers complained about the injustice against their clients.
On a few occasions Magistrates have had to order investigations into the alleged violations.
The concern of some of the affected persons was that it was beginning to appear as if the police were making the act a habit.
It was felt that the lawmen were using the holding time to prove points to persons or to use their power to settle personal matters with persons they would have had a misunderstanding with.
Legal practitioners said that the detention period was implemented to allow officers to detain a suspected villain so that he may not flee the jurisdiction or tamper with a police crime scene in the process of investigations.
The police must have credible information to act on as to justify the purpose of detention beyond stipulated timings.

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