It is very easy for the Police Commissioner and others to tell the public to ask police officers for their police identification badges and numbers.It should be even easier for the Police Commissioner and others to tell their colleagues that they should immediately, without any hesitation, produce on demand their identification badges and numbers.
It is the hardest thing for members of the public to get the police officers to present their badges and numbers.Since August 2014, I am still waiting for a response from the Police Commissioner and/or the Police Complaints Division on a report where two police officers came to my house and demanded entry but both refused to produce their identification badges.
My sister refused to allow them entry into the house and they both proceeded to harass her. This can be confirmed by the Charge Room of the San Fernando Police Station and the Sergeant-in-Charge.The mere suggestion to the public to write a complaint to the Police Commissioner and/or the Police Complaints Division is an exercise in futility as it takes months to get a mere reply and years to get any response.
In one complaint, the response, after years, was that the St Margaret's Police Station cannot identify the two police officers sent on enquiries.
In a second complaint in 2001, the first response after two years was that since my version conflicted with that of the police constable, no further action will be taken. After my objections, the second response after three years was that there were no witnesses.
Again after my objections, the third response after four years was that a witness was located but since this person has retired, the investigation was terminated. My advice to the public is that before engaging any police officer, first request their police identification badge and number. On normal occasions, will these documents be produced?
Depending on the first response, members of the public will then determine the level of co-operation that will be received.But I still recommend that the complaint is written and submitted for documentation purposes.
Philip Ayoung-Chee