Cops providing escorts warned

By JUNIOR UKAHA
POLICE men and women privately escorting representatives of organisations or individuals have been warned to stop the practice or face disciplinary actions.
Deputy police commissioner operations Simon Kauba said on Monday he was concerned about reports that officers were not attending to complaints by citizens and were “attached” to politicians and business houses.
“The commissioner has issued clear instructions to all police men and women throughout the country regarding the matter,” Kauba said.
“This instruction still remains.
“It is a standing order.”
He said the commissioner of police had not authorised officers to provide escorts to anyone except the prime minister, deputy prime minister, opposition leader, governor-general and National Court judges.
He said cabinet ministers were provided escorts “only upon request”.
“These are close protection officers I’m talking about.
“If there are policemen or women who are providing private escorts to individuals or companies, we would like to know their names,”Kauba  said.
He added the police force was there to provide service to the public and was not there to execute the will of any one person or group.
“It is not within our constitutional responsibilities and code of ethics to do private escorts,” he said.
Kauba said all police station commanders, provincial police commanders and divisional commanders were aware of the commissioner’s standing orders and had no excuse for not providing stringent leadership in this area.