BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Tuesday July 22, 2014, CMC – Police are using lie detector tests and will soon introduce video surveillance systems, not only to catch the criminals but also to keep their own in check.
Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith said Friday that the introduction of lie detector tests on officers has prompted resistance among the ranks of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF), but insisted that the programme is good for the public’s view of the force and will continue.
“Since we started this programme there have been threats to bring legal action against me,” he said. “This will not thwart our efforts.”
“Like anything else, there will be persons who will want to resist this, but we have to be strong and stick to our guns. In the long run this will augur well for the department’s image…It may be unpopular now, but sometime down the road wisdom will be seen.”
He said that soon to be introduced “video patrols” on the streets of Barbados will have the dual effect of helping to solve crime while keeping officers in line.
“All these things can only help to build the image of the force. Sometimes people say all kinds of adverse things about officers and you have nothing to support the officers, or refute these claims unless you have some material piece of evidence that can show the contrary,” Griffith said.
Video and audio recorded interviews of suspects are now in their early stages, and Griffith said this form of evidence-taking will be supported by new legislation and amended laws in 2015.
“The introduction of electronic interviewing over time will result in allegations of forced confessions fading away,” Griffith said, adding, “This will be unpopular, but it needs to be bold enough to do what is best for the organisation.”
Also coming soon to RBPF is PROMAT, an electronic system facilitating almost immediate ID parades of suspects. One of the advantages of the immediacy is that a victim’s recollection of the attacker’s image will be sharper.
According to producers of the system, in use in the UK, it involves pulling up electronic images of suspects from a database and enables the police force to offer a quick, efficient service with live video ID parades conveniently taking place soon after an incident occurs and while the image is still fresh in the witness’s memory.
Griffith said this will embolden witnesses to cooperate with police, as it will take away the fear of coming face to face with accused persons.
“It will also eliminate the difficulty that officers encounter on finding suitable persons to put on the parade,” Griffith said.
