Indiscipline Police personnel would not be spared

Winneba (C/R), Feb. 21, GNA - The Commissioner of Police In-Charge of Administration, Mr Safo Kwateng, has warned miscreants in the Police Service to better leave the profession or face the blunt of dismissal when caught in the web of indiscipline.

According to him, many complaints and adverse reports have been received about some of the newly turned out constables as not performing well, abandoning their duty points, failing to report for duty, performing unauthorized assignments and misusing their weapons. Mr Kwateng gave the warning when addressing a passing-out ceremony of 152 police recruits, made up of 102 men and 50 women after their six months training at the Winneba Police Training School at Winneba on Friday.

They were trained among others in weapon handling, criminal laws procedure, criminal investigation and law of evidence. The Police commissioner said, it was unacceptable that some police personnel create their own designs of uniform and add unnecessary additions, while some policemen carry knives and bayonets on their belt as if they are combat troop.

He said that all these dressing are in total violation of the police dress code, adding that, many of these dressings appear so frightful and repulsive, making it very difficult for the civil populace to approach them for assistance.

Mr Kwateng told the recruits that they have joined the service in an era when crime has become sophisticated and criminals are capitalizing on information technology to outwit law enforcement agencies.

"Remember that after passing out today, you will be on probation for the next 18 months, during this period, your performance will be closely monitored and your character critically assessed by the various officers under whom you will serve".

Mr Kwateng said in this present democratic dispensation, the Service is guided by the Constitution in the enforcement of laws and key among the Constitution provisions is the respect for fundamental human rights contained in chapter five.

This provision prohibits the abuse of power in any form, it is therefore wrong to think that as Police personnel we have the discretion to decide how much freedom individual citizens must enjoy in any given situation, he said.

Mr Kwateng said the Police Administration unreservedly resent the abuse of discretion and would not "spare anyone caught in this quagmire".

Acts of intimidation, inhuman treatment and unjustifiable arrests and detention of suspects, especially at the week ends must be avoided at all cost, the police boss said.

"Let me further caution that bribery, extortion and connivance with criminals are all repulsive attitudes, which should not be perpetrated by respectable and decent Policemen and women", he said.

Six recruits were awarded for distinguished performance with the overall best awards going to General Recruit Davis Sassou.

The ceremony was attended by some senior police officers from the Police Headquarters and other parts of the country and relatives and parents of the recruits.