A strategic plan to reform the police force was shelved last year because of the crime wave, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ag), Winston Felix, said yesterday.

The plan, which looked at reform in areas like criminal investigations, crime and intelligence, custody, community relations and media relations, was authored by Felix and three other local officers in the UK last year.

“[But] the crime situation broke up the arrangements,” he told the Disciplined Forces Commission yesterday.

The commission is reviewing the Guyana Police Force and the other disciplined forces and will make recommendations to improve their operational efficiency. An interim report of its findings and recommendations for the police force is to be presented to the National Assembly by November 18.

Justice of Appeal Ian Chang is chairman of the Commission, and includes former attorney-general Charles Ramson, former national security adviser Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, attorney Anil Nandlall and Irish human rights activist Maggie Beirne.

Felix said committees were set up to examine the concerns and find solutions to the existing problems. He also said the committees did start some work, meeting with the business community/private sector as well as the media grouping to address their concerns and improve partnerships.

“We even started a pilot scheme, where the rights of prisoners and their families were [posted] at certain stations. We were also looking at firearms training. We were hoping to acquire land to develop our own ranges... [but] arrangements were put on hold and we had several situations where we had to move manpower and it was very inconvenient.”

“How far had it (progressed) before it was put on hold?” commissioner Beirne asked.

The draft of the strategy was submitted to the Police Commissioner and the Minister of Home Affairs for their consideration, Felix said, adding that within the force he believed “there is an interest in having reform proceed”.

He said that at the time it was shelved other officers in the force were being sold on the merits of the plan.

“Was there a timetable?” she queried.

“What was intended was that after we finalised the consultation phase the time-tabling of events and activities would begin. But the intervention of undesirable criminal activities prevented moving further to the next phase.”

“What about cost?” Granger interrupted, “...was it approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs?”

“I didn’t have any interaction at that level. I can only as-sume that some sort of agreement was made,” Felix said.

The commission has received constant complaints of the abuse by members of the force of their powers of arrest and detention.

People are arrested and detained with no release sometimes until court dates, although the law as set out in the Police Act says that any officer in charge of a station at a given time, including the constable, can grant station bail.

Felix, noting that the problem is more common in outlying areas, said when a person is taken into custody, the reasons why they are arrested ought to be assessed and a determination made on whether they are charged, bailed or detained until the completion of an investigation, in view of the circumstances of any particular case.

He recalled that when he was a constable he and others kept a receipt book and routinely released people on bail. He said the divisional commanders and sub-divisional commanders are ultimately in charge. During his own time as a commander, he said, he would inquire at all the stations everyday about the persons detained, the length of their time in custody and the reasons for them not being charged.

“It is the failure of a person in charge to carry out his functions. The systems are in place but [persons] are not carrying out functions exactly. That’s my view,” he said.

“We recognise that the police have the responsibility for arrest and the detention of persons and this is done within the requirements of the law... It is necessary for us to avail the person arrested of at least one phone call... Generally, we should observe Section 21 of the Police Act, in both letter and spirit. If persons are to be admitted to bail it should not be denied.... this ought to go towards improving efficiency in this particular area.”

“You said you don’t think it’s a problem with the system, but with individuals not aware of their authority. How can that be addressed?” commissioner Beirne later asked him.

“... it needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The divisional commander ought to know what sort of complaints he is getting in his division. It starts there,” he said.

In addition, the experience gained in one division could be beneficial to others that may face similar problems.

Meanwhile, Felix also expressed his concern over the treatment of prisoners in custody.

“My [main] problem is with the number of arrests these days you have more than one person in lockups.” He said that there is a need for more cells to ensure one person to one cell.

Juvenile and female prisoners were another of part his concerns. Once charged juvenile prisoners could be remanded and may be left in police stations, which are not configured for them. He said this often leads to the “unpleasant and undesirable situations” where they are in contact with older prisoners. Female prisoners awaiting trial are housed at the East La Penitence Police Station.

Felix was unable to complete his testimony yesterday and is to return before the commission today.

Also testifying at yesterday’s hearing was Assistant Commissioner responsible for training, Sydney Bunbury.