SEXUAL ASSAULT ON FEMALE OFFICERS

Nov 16, 2015 Editorial

There is a long way to go before Guyana’s crime rate can be considered tolerable. News that the country is actually on course to record the highest number of murders and armed robberies for the first time in a decade is discouraging.
What is even more frustrating is that the Minister in charge of the nation’s security has not created a plan to fight crime. He seems to downplay the seriousness of crimes that are being committed almost every day on innocent law abiding citizens.
The people are disappointed that the new government has not been able to reduce crime as they had promised during the elections campaign. It may be that the government is clueless to the pain and suffering of the people who have been robbed and whose lives are at risk. It is highly unfortunate that those in authority are behaving as if everything is honky-dory in regards to crime.
A low crime rate is good for the country because it creates safer communities and raises the level of trust and confidence among the populace. And a greater sense of safety and confidence in society could trigger economic growth, since businesses would be inclined to stay open for longer periods and potential investors would be more willing to invest. This could be a win-win situation for the people and the Police Force.
However, there are some major problems in the Police Force that need to be resolved in order for it to be effective in fighting crime. One, some members of the Police Force are undisciplined, unprofessional, corrupt and dishonest and are alleged to be involved in illegal activities.
Two, the police have not served or protected the people well; they continue to abuse them and violate their human rights. Third, the police must cooperate with the public in order to gain their trust. This could lay the foundation for the Force to improve its tarnished image and gain an upper hand on crime. And fourth, the Force should not tolerate sexual assault against its female ranks.
It is common knowledge that female ranks are sexually assaulted by some senior officers in the Force and those who have refused the sexual advances of their seniors are considered insubordinate and are banished into the remote areas of the country.
The most recent case of sexual assault against a young female rank occurred in September of this year in the interior. After nearly two months since the assault, no disciplinary action has been taken against the officer and no charges have been filed against him so far. In fact, the officer has been promoted by the Force to the rank of Deputy Commander of the very Division where the incident took place. And the female Constable is now stationed at a city police station where she is reportedly being ridiculed by some of her colleagues for reporting the matter.
The Office of Professional Responsibility, which is the investigative arm of the Police Force, has not pronounced on this issue and the family of the female constable has lost faith in the system. This is not anything new for the police.
All too often, officers who have allegedly committed illegal acts against the public or their female colleagues are seldom demoted, fired or charged. For example, the two police officers who burnt the genitals of 14 year old Twyon Thomas at the Leonora Police Station on October 2009 were not fired, but were promoted by the Force.
Likewise, the senior police officer who gave orders to shoot unarmed protestors at Linden in July 2012 that led to the deaths of three persons was also promoted. And charges filed against the former Commissioner of Police Henry Greene for allegedly raping a woman were not instituted. It seems that the police are governed by a different law.
It is known that the Police Force has a reputation of protecting its officers. Only a few are disciplined, fired or charged, but this is only when their actions are blatant.

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SEXUAL ASSAULT ON FEMALE OFFICERS

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