Concerns over police reservists leads to end of programme

THE use of police reservists around the country will cease on Tuesday (Sept 15) with all issued equipment to be returned on Monday.
This comes after concerns were raised about the police reservists programme, in particular on their training and conduct which led to Police Commissioner David Manning stopping their use by the constabulary.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer confirmed that the reservist programme had been discussed between his and the commissioner’s office.
“There are serious concerns about how the programme is to be run and I have witnessed a few instances where reservists had tarnished the name of the force,” he said.
Kramer said the decision to stand down all reservists was for them to reapply through a vetting system that would identify undesirable members based on their past records.
Comm Manning last week released a directive ordering the standing down of all police reservists nationwide effective from Tuesday.
The exceptions to this directive were members of the reserve branch who were engaged under a memorandum of understanding with respective organisations. Police reservists are expected to return all police issued items including uniforms, radios, firearms and ammunition by Monday.
Comm Manning warned that any person caught with police-issued items after Sept 14 would be charged with impersonating a police officer and being in possession of police issued items.