The Police Officers’ Association, POA, is accusing the National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, of failing to acknowledge the long standing issues relating to the filthy and inhumane condition of police lockups.
This follows the announcement by Minister Bunting, that an audit of police lockups is to be carried out following the death of Mario Deane while in police custody in St. James.
The POA says while it has no objection to the Minister’s authority to order the audit, it wishes to put on record that all divisional managers are already required to provide weekly reports of the status or cells and prisoners in custody.
The POA says it’s a known fact, as documented in these reports, that most of the police lockups are overcrowded, poorly built and lack adequate personal care facilities.
It says these conditions expose both police and inmates to grave personal risks.
It says these poor conditions and inadequate cell capacity also greatly hamper the JCF’s crime management strategies.
The POA is further encouraging the government to expedite plans to refurbish police lockups in line with international human rights standards.
