Arresting officers told to improve

By JIMMY KALEBE

NEGLIGENCE by police arresting officers in submitting quality court statements and briefs are monitored and those found neglecting their duties will be disciplined, a senior officer says.
Lae metropolitan commander Chief Supt Chris Kunyanban said a team has been setup to monitor cases that go before the courts.
“This is to ensure that big cases that go before the courts are followed up well,” he said.
“And so that what needs to be done has to be done and police personnel responsible for those cases were monitored and supported to ensure that the cases reached their conclusion.”
Kunyanban was responding to questions raised to him relating to some cases that had came before the courts and were struck out lately by the courts due to the fact that some statements in court were not certified by those providing them.
Section 94 (1A) of the District Court Act points out that all statements made in court relating to a case had to be signed by the person making the statement.
He said that the arresting officers had to ensure that these statements were signed before they could be tendered in court otherwise they would be not accepted.
“When this happens, it is out of plain laziness and these arresting officers will be dealt with for their carelessness,” he said.
Kunyanban said for the cases that were struck out in court, the review committee would look at them and find ways to ensure the cases were brought back to court.
“This negligence is not done by all arresting officers, it is done by only some who tend to think that all they do is right,” he said.
“But what they are actually doing is that they are overlooking vital areas that the courts would be considering when they are dealing with these cases.”