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Members of the preparatory committee of the Junior Police Officers' Association receive the registration certificate for the association while officers from the Staff Relations Unit look on.
summarily any officer who disobeys an order issued by him; and the formation of a Junior Police Officers' Association to represent the views of the police Rank and File.
Complaints
The Complaints Against Police Office was first established in 1974 to investigate complaints of misconduct and those concerning procedures. During 1977 the Commissioner decided there was a need for an independent body to review the handling of complaints, and made representations to the Governor, which resulted in the creation of the UMELCO/ Police Group in September.
The body, which meets at bi-weekly intervals, is com- posed of six unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative councils, the Solicitor General, the Administra- tive Secretary of the UMELCO Office and t Force's Commander Personnel with two Staff Officers attached to the Complaints Against Police Office.
Following the re-structuring of the Office, its strength was increased from 10 to 44 officers and civilian personnel. The Office monitors all investigations into complaints made against members of the Force, maintains records and statistics and investigates all complaints of misconduct, other than criminal offences.
Discipline
New discipline regulations were introduced during the year which allow some disciplinary offences to be dealt with by Inspectors in charge of small units, and also for offences committed by Inspectors to be dealt with by Divisional Superintendents instead of by a tribunal appointed by the Commissioner.
The new regulations were designed to provide unit- based discipline without the delays inherent in a centralised system. The aim is to maintain the high level of discipline essential to the police role while, at the same time, adopting a more humane and realistic approach.
During the year 350 disciplinary offences were reported, most of which were of a minor nature. This compares with 516 during 1976. Of the total, 343 concerned Rank and File and seven the Inspectorate.
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