Use of violence by police ‘not a structural problem,’ Law Enforcement Council says

January 26, 2015 10:16 AM
PHILIPSBURG -- Although further training of officers is advised, there is no structural problem where the use of violence, verbal abuse and disproportionate violence by the police is concerned, a report by the Council of Law Enforcement states.
 
The Minister of Justice recently received the report by the Council on Law Enforcement, containing the results of its investigation on the use of violence by and against the Police Force in St. Maarten.
 
The report titled "Use of violence by the police in St. Maarten" addresses the questions how the use of violence by police is regulated and to which extent, violence and disproportionate violence is used by the police. The report, moreover, looks at how the use of violence against police officers is dealt with.
 
The Council reviewed aspects of legislation, powers, prepared knowledge, training, skills, testing, follow-up or investigation of complaints and reports, as well as the registration of such.
 
For legal use of violence the requirements of proportionality and necessity must be taken into consideration. If a police officer does not consider these requirements when using force, this could be a case of disproportionate violence, notes the Council.
 
Whereas the know-how of police officers is, in general, deemed sufficient, when confronted with such cases, it is advisable that police officers get the opportunity to refresh their skills and training.
 
In order to maintain these skills, an Integral Professional Skills Training (IPST) is in existence. The Council notes that the St. Maarten Police Force is significantly behind in this area.
 
The importance of training and testing is nonetheless recognised by the management of the Police Force and on February 24 of last year, training for professional skills was initiated for the members of the force.
 
The physical condition of police officers needs attention also, notes the council.
 
The report mentions that a citizen may complain about any case of police aggression or repression at the Internal Affairs Bureau of the Police Force of St. Maarten, the Ombudsman and the Joint Court of Justice. In addition, a Complaints Committee Police Action must be installed on St. Maarten, says the council.
 
On the basis of an investigation conducted and available figures obtained, the Council is of the opinion that there is no structural problem where the use of violence, verbal abuse and disproportionate violence by the police is concerned.
 
Use of violence must, however, always be a point of attention for the management of the Police Force and must be handled during the coaching, schooling and training of police officers.
 
With regard to violence against police officers, the council is of the opinion that the use of force and verbal abuse against the police is also not a structural problem on St. Maarten.
 
The Daily Herald
 
About the Council for Law Enforcement
 
The Council for Law Enforcement was established in 2011 by Kingdom decree. The Council for Law Enforcement is an inter-insular body, responsible for the inspection of the various organizations within the justice system. The ultimate objective is to provide recommendations to the Ministers of Justice of the three countries of the Dutch Kingdom in order to correct shortcomings. The Council consists of three members who are appointed by Royal Decree and represent respectively Curacao, the Netherlands for the BES islands and Sint Maarten.
 
The Council has a secretariat with offices in St. Maarten, Curacao and Bonaire. The Secretariat of the Council for Law Enforcement in St. Maarten is located in the Joeliva Building, Charles Voges Street 7 in Philipsburg. Telephone numbers for the secretariat in St. Maarten is 542-9021 and 542-9022.
 
For further information on the Council for Law Enforcement, visit the website: www.raadrechtshandhaving.com

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