Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken says senior officers can only intervene in operations carried out by other ranks if proper procedures are followed.
Hicken, during a Police round-up programme, acknowledged a recent incident where questions were raised about a senior officer’s intervention.
In a widely-circulated video, a woman who said she is a Police Officer was stopped by a Corporal, reportedly of the anti-crime unit. The woman, seemingly upset, contacted a male who subsequently identified himself as Deputy Commissioner Fizal Karim-Baksh, who heads the Special Organised Crime Unit. In a conversation that unfolded over the phone, the Corporal was told to let the woman go.
The Police Commissioner said the interaction warrants further examination and, as such, the Office of Professional Responsibility is “conducting a thorough investigation into the matter, ensuring that the entirety of the operation has been examined.”
Beyond that, however, Hicken affirmed that senior officers must follow established procedures when intervening in operations.
“Senior officers may intervene in anti-crime operations, but any intervention must be based on situational awareness, and following established Standard Operating Procedures,” he said.
The Commissioner’s statement underscores the importance of maintaining chain of command protocols and ensuring that all interventions in police operations adhere to proper procedures to maintain the integrity of law enforcement operations.
