XN000022-1977-09-23 — Page 4

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1977

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POLICE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES

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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS BEEN REVIEWING THE MACHINERY FOR EXAMINING COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE AND HAS INVITED MEMBERS OF UMELCO TO MEET REGULARLY WITH SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS TO MONITOR POL ICE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UMELCO ALREADY HAD A STANDING GROUP WHICH CONSIDERED MATTERS RELATING TO THE POLICE AND SECURITY. HITHERTO COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY UMELCO BY CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE POLICE AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY, NOR HAS IT GIVEN UMELCO A FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE RANGE OF COMPLAINTS OR OF HOW THEY WERE BEING HANDLED, IT IS TO MEET THIS SITUATION THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAS SUGGESTED THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH THE UMELCO STANDING GROUP WILL BE MORE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS BY THE POLICE BY MEANS OF REGULAR MEETINGS SPECIFICALLY TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS AND THE WAY THEY ARE HANDLED.

THE PANEL, WHICH WILL KEET FORTNIGHTLY WILL BE COMPOSED OF SIR SIDNEY GORDON, FIVE OTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND TWC SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS. IN ADDITION TO MONITORING AND REVIEWING POLICE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS, THE PANEL WILL KEEP UNDER REVIEW MATTERS LEADING TO COMPLAINTS BY THE PUBLIC, SUCH AS POLICE PROCEDURES AND CONDUCT. IT WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE CR, IF NECESSARY, THE GOVERNOR, AS APPROPRIATE.