PNCR MP Clarissa Riehl says police are hiding serious cases from the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) which is left to investigate complaints about uncivil policemen instead of police brutality.

Riehl, in testimony before the Disciplined Forces Commission on Monday, said the PCA was already understaffed and under-financed and was bogged down by minor offences.

“Police must bring serious offences to the attention of the PCA...but this is seldom done,” Riehl said, describing it as a disturbing development given their statutory obligations to do so. She said the PCA most times learned of serious cases through newspaper reports.

Of the 161 complaints the PCA received last year, a significant number of them were cases of policemen being uncivil to members of the public.

Riehl said the PCA could be relieved of the supervision of departmental offences - like professional misconduct - which could be managed by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

She said the OPR could serve as an Internal Affairs unit within the force to investigate complaints of corruption or illegal conduct while the PCA would deal with criminal offences.

Aside from these deficiencies and others - like the complex procedure for making complaints and the fact that some members of the public don’t even know what the PCA is - Riehl considered that the biggest problem remains “the fact that the police are investigating themselves.”

“[And] even the PCA itself has recognised that fact. In its annual report for 2002 it says the perceptions by members of the public is that it is very wrong for members of the police force to investigate their colleagues.”

In its formal submissions to the Commission the PNCR states that Parliament should invest the PCA with the necessary resources and independence to carry out its functions fearlessly and freely.

Riehl said the PCA was now only reactive and needed powers exceeding its present capacity to supervise investigations.

She recommended expanding its powers to the extent that it would also monitor the conduct of the police force, and report and make recommendations to Parliament.

Asked by Commissioner Nandlall about decentralising the operations of the PCA to serve areas outside of Georgetown, Riehl thought it was a good idea.

“Why shouldn’t [the PCA] be vested with the powers to prosecute?” he asked.

“I don’t see any reason why not...” Riehl said, pointing out that this happened in other countries.

She also lamented the state of affairs at the Office of the Ombudsman, who is “so eager to see anyone, he says everybody ignores him.”

She says it is a necessary institution but is being neglected when it could be strengthened to complement the work of the PCA and other institutions.