Addressing parliament, Mr Russell raised the concern that “many known criminals” are being allowed to join the police, despite the serious nature of their past offences.
This practice, he added, could only cast a negative light on the country’s police force. Mr Russell said that recent investigations had shown several cases where known highrisk offenders are becoming police officers. Citing one example, he said there is a person who was arrested and awaiting a court hearing a few weeks prior to applying to the force. “On their report they (the police) were told that the applicant should be given a second chance,” he said.
Further examination, Mr Russell said, revealed a case where the police ignored a V commendation not to hire, although the individual in question was considered a risk to women.
“He became a policeman, served for approximately two years and is now awaiting trial on the charge of rape,” he said.
In another case, he said, “testing revealed that another applicant was of a high risk nature, recommendation not to hire was also ignored, but before his training began he was arrested and is now awaiting trial on a list of charges ranging from housebreaking to kidnapping.
“These are a few of the cited situations that must be corrected and prevented in the future because I see it as a negative impact on the force and the well-being of the country,” he said.
Following this statement by Mr Russell, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell immediately contacted the deputy commissioner of police John Rolle to ask him to look into the matters brought up in parliament yesterday.
“I consider these allegations to be very serious,” Mr Mitchell said.
Source: The Tribune
