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WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1989
(C)
(D)
(E)
(F)
(G)
TO FACILITATE THE RECLAIMING OF VEHICLES RETAINED BY THE POLICE, THE ISSUE OF A NOTE BY POLICE TRAFFIC UNITS ΤΟ DRIVERS CONCERNED, EXPLAINING THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED;
AN EXAMINATION OF THE POLICE PROCEDURES AND THE LEVEL OF AUTHORISATION TO CURTAIL MINOR INVESTIGATIONS;
A REVIEW OF THE RELEVANT POLICE GENERAL ORDERS GOVERNING THE HANDLING OF REPORTS ON INDECENT EXPOSURE;
BRIEFINGS TO CAPO OFFICERS ON THE NEED TO SEEK THE OPINION OF THE CONSULTANT FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST WHERE AN ALLEGATION OF ASSAULT IS LIKELY TO BE RAISED IN COURT';
AND
THE ISSUE OF INSTRUCTIONS TO BRIEF POLICE OFFICERS CONCERNED THAT THEY SHOULD INITIATE "BENCH WARRANT" OR "FUNCTION 60" (WANTED VEHICLES) CHECKS FOR OUTSTANDING TRAFFIC WARRANTS BEFORE COMMENCING WRITING OUT FIXED PENALTY TICKETS OR MAKING NOTEBOOK ENTRIES, IN ORDER ΤΟ REDUCE TO A MINIMUM DELAYS AND INCONVENIENCE CAUSED ΤΟ MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THE REPORT ALSO NOTES THAT A TOTAL OF 3,230 COMPLAINT CASES WERE REGISTERED BY THE CAPO IN 1988, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF 16.9 PER CENT OVER THE FIGURE OF 3,885 IN 1987 AND A DECREASE OF 28.9 PER CENT OVER THE 4,544 COMPLAINT CASES REGISTERED IN 1986. AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINT CASES (91.7 PER CENT) WERE MADE DIRECT TO THE POLICE FORCE.
DURING THE YEAR, THE COMMITTEE HAS ENDORSED THE ADOPTION OF AN INFORMAL RESOLUTION SCHEME TO RESOLVE COMPLAINTS ARISING AS A RESULT OF A FAULT IN PROCEDURE OR POLICY; A GENUINE MISUNDERSTANDING; AND CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE OFFICERS CONCERNED. THIS SCHEME ENABLES SUCH COMPLAINTS TO BE INFORMALLY RESOLVED THROUGH PERSONAL DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE INVESTIGATION OFFICERS AND THE COMPLAINANTS AS OPPOSED TO A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. IT IS INTENDED THAT THE SCHEME WILL BE INTRODUCED IN PHASES.
THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IS AN INDEPENDENT MONITORING GROUP APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. IN 1988. THE COMMITTEE COMPRISED A CHAIRMAN AND A VICE-CHAIRMAN, BOTH DRAWN FROM OMELCO AND NINE MEMBERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMITTEE.
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