Watching police accountability around the Commonwealth

 Australia

Calls were made for an independent inquiry into policing following claims of police misconduct at the APEC Summit. Seven complaints of misconduct have been lodged with the NSW Ombudsman. The NSW Police Commissioner described public complaints against police officers as red tape reducing efficiency and stated that he aims to reduce the number of complaints made to the force's Professional Standards Command and the Police Integrity Commission. This statement was met opposition with a Greens MP and Police Spokesperson stating that "A robust public complaints system is absolutely essential to reducing Police corruption and keeping NSW Police accountable to the public it is supposed to serve… The APEC security measures were the most authoritarian display of Police powers in this city in recent memory. We must not allow that sort of oppressive policing to become an accepted part of living in NSW." (19/09/2007)

Despite evidence linking Victorian police to gangland murders and corruption and misconduct in the police drug squad, the Premier of Victoria refused to support calls for the formation of an independent Royal Commission into police corruption. In contrast three other Australian states have established anti-corruption watchdog bodies. (20/09/2007)

An annual report by the Office of Police Integrity (OPI) asserted that there are a small number of influential corrupt police officers in the Victorian police linked to organised crime. (10/10/2007)

Legislation was proposed that would give powers to the Federal Police Commissioner to unilaterally block internet content he ”has reason to believe is… crime or terrorist related.” The Communications Legislation Amendment (Crime or Terrorism Related Internet Content) was introduced to the Senate by Communications Minister Helen Coonan on 13 September. The Bill defines offending content as that which “encourages, incites, or induces” or is “likely to have the effect of facilitating “an offence against the Commonwealth. Many have criticised the bill for its potential to unjustifiably restrict press freedom.

A counter-terrorism conference with a focus on counter-terrorism policing and culturally diverse communities was held in Melbourne. (16/10/2007)

An inquiry by the Crime and Misconduct Commission into the policing of indigenous communities in far north Queensland commenced. There have been numerous allegations of police brutality in indigenous communities. (18/10/2007)

Civil liberties groups slammed new surveillance laws in the state of NSW giving police greater powers to install, monitor and retrieve a range of surveillance devices. NSW Council for Civil Liberties said the laws “remove police accountability and could lead to an abuse of power”. (25/10/2007)

The Victorian Crimes Act allowed anti-corruption police officers (from the Office of Police Integrity) to use assumed identities when investigating police corruption. (31/10/2007)

The Victoria state Premier John Brumby continues to oppose the set-up of an anti-police corruption body, stating that the Office of Police Integrity is adequate. This is in contrast to federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd who has stated that independent anti-corruption commissions are crucial.

A hearing by the Victorian Office of Police Integrity (OPI) into police corruption and confidential information leaks resulted in the resignation of a number of implicated Victoria Police officers. The OPI held a public hearing on 7 November, with the purpose of enhancing public confidence in the OPI and Victoria Police. (12/11/2007)

Bahamas

The Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA) called for a Human Rights Act in Bahamas. The Association President said that rights require remedies and that there is also a need for a human rights ombudsman or a human rights commissioner. This position would allow members of the public to log claims against government agents (including the police). (11/11/2007)

 Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) prepared to introduce a complaints mechanism, whereby victims can lodge complaints of police harassment to deputy police commissioners and illegal arrests will be punished. Additionally, the DMP plans to hold a motivational training workshop addressing the issue of harassment for 23,500 uniformed and 804 civilian force members. (24/10/2007)

A local leader of the Bangladesh Chhatara League alleged he was tortured and critically injured in police custody. (13/11/2007)

Botswana

At a police workshop in Gaborone, a former police commissioner called for police supervisors to take responsibility in reducing police corruption, with an emphasis on training and education for public officers in addition to oversight mechanisms. (16/10/2007)

 Canada

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association called on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Canada's federal police organisation) to implement an independent civilian body to investigate custodial deaths, in response to the high number of custodial deaths in August. The current B.C. Police Complaint Commissioner does not have the legal authority to investigate custodial deaths and the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP had not commenced an investigation. (14/09/2007)

The Canadian Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that police are not immune from liability and can be sued for negligent investigations. Lawyers labeled the decision a landmark for police accountability that has the potential to significantly change the way police conduct investigations. (04/10/2007)

A national conference held by the Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement looked at a shift towards more independent police complaints investigations. (11/10/2007)

Three Canadian Muslims alleging they were tortured in a Syrian Prison as a result of faulty information from Canadian authorities, called for the Government to make public the closed-door federal inquiry into their allegations. (12/10/2007)

The recent death of a man subdued by the RCMP using taser guns prompted renewed calls for an independent civilian agency to investigate civilian police-related deaths from the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association. (30/10/2007)

 Fiji

Calls were made for the Anti-Corruption Commission to be properly independent from the police department. Also in Fiji, charges of murder and assault have been laid by the DPP against eight soldiers and a police officer implicated in the murder of a 19-year-old who died in military custody last January. Local rights groups congratulated the DPP on its independence. (01/11/2007)

Ghana

An alleged victim of police brutality claimed that the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau of the Ghana Police Service is not taking any action on his complaint. The Bureau responded that investigations are underway. (05/09/2007)

Following a dispute between police chiefs that led to brutal clashes between the police and the community in the Volta region, CHRI called for the appointment of a new Regional Police Commissioner. It also called for the prosecution of those officers in charge of the operations. (09/09/2007)

Guyana

UK security experts went to Guyana to commence work on a British funded police reform plan. The action plan aims to share best practices and help strengthen the Guyana Police Force in order to respond better to serious crime and enhance public participation on security issues in the country. (27/09/2007)

Police in Guyana were accused of torturing two people during a joint services operation. The Government denied allegations leveled against them that torture is a new crime fighting and law enforcement tactic. The opposition party PNCR strongly criticised the security forces’ treatment of the men. These allegations came one year after a recommendation from the UN Committee against Torture that Guyana should take "effective steps to guarantee the accountability of the Guyana Police Force and, to this effect, carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations, try the perpetrators of acts of abuse and, when convicted, impose appropriate sentences and adequately compensate the victims". (01/10/2007)

Local news called into question the ability the International Policing Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, Superintendent Paul Morisetti, to implement the Security Sector Reform Action Plan that followed the August signing of a security cooperation agreement between Guyana and Britain. Elements of the plan are improved police operational capacity and improved parliamentary oversight of the police. (10/10/2007)

India

Muslim groups in Hyderabad alleged that Muslim youths have been the subject of arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and instances of torture by police in the aftermath of the Hyderabad bomb blasts which killed 44 people in August. The police denied the claims.(20/09/2007)

At a conference of Indian Police Directors and Inspectors General, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for the creation of a more effective intelligence apparatus to focus on security threats in India. He stated: "We need better police forces - better in all senses - be it training, be it skills, be it equipment, be it resources, be it mobility or be it attitudes. We need superior intelligence capabilities… Terrorism has become a global phenomenon of our times… We need to go far beyond conventional responses in facing the severe terrorist threats." (04/10/2007)

The Andhra Pradesh Minorities Commission in Hyderabad has listed at least twenty Muslims tortured by police during terrorism investigations. (17/10/2007)

Criticism was levelled at police playing an indirect role by standing mute at scenes of "street justice" while mobs carried out attacks. (19/10/2007)

Two Kerala Armed Police officers were suspended for the torture of four people. (29/10/2007)

Police in Kochi took part in a “Global Police Station Visit” week organised by an international organisation, Altus Global Alliance. Aiming to improve public safety and justice with an emphasis on police accountability, the public were asked to visit their local police stations and assess the service. The organisations states that, last year, 471 stations in 23 countries were selected for “identifying good practices in use and strengthening the accountability of police to the public.” (01/11/2007)

A fact-finding report by the Andhra Pradesh Minority Commission was given to the government detailing the frightening torture techniques of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Hyderabad police. The SIT had been investigating the August bombings that took place in the southern Indian city. Over one hundred suspects have allegedly been arrested and detained in isolation and the police have reportedly carried our midnight raids and arrests.

Jamaica

There were allegations of police killings and brutality in the poor inner city communities of Kingston. (06/10/2007)

Kenya

The High Court in Nairobi ruled in favour of a human rights groups claiming the Commandant of the Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Police Unit had admitted sending hundreds of suspected terrorists to Ethiopia and US secret detention facilities. The judge has given the Commander two weeks to appear and explain the secret detentions or a warrant will be issued for his arrest. This is the first time a court has ordered police to explain secret detentions. (18/09/2007)

Kenya's anti-terrorism police chief was formally summoned for questioning by the High Court on his knowledge of secret renditions of terrorism suspects (from Kenya to Somalia to Ethiopia and finally to secret US detention facilities) on 8 October. (25/09/2007)

Anti-Terrorism Police Unit Commander, Nicholas Kamwende, appeared in the High Court, summoned to explain the whereabouts of three individuals arrested in relation to a terrorism investigation who have been missing since July. He denied knowing their whereabouts despite claims that they had been deported to Ethiopia. (09/10/2007)

Kenya police denied carrying out extra-judicial killings of alleged members of the outlawed Mungiki sect after allegations were made by the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR). (24/10/2007)

The Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR) accused police of killing nearly 500 people in the crackdown on Mungiki sect members between June and October 2007. They have issued a report. (06/11/2007)

Major-General Hussein Ali, Kenya’s Police Commissioner, accused the Kenya National Human Rights Commission of tainting the Kenya Police in order to justify its existence. (07/11/2007)

At a Presidential Committee investigating renditions, women gave evidence of the abusive arrests and interrogations carried out by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit. (09/11/2007)

Malaysia

In an unprecedented landmark case, a former detainee under the Internal Security Act was awarded damages of RM2.5 million (US$740,000) in a suit filed against the police and government in 1998. The judge held that his arrest and 57 days in detention were unlawful because they were done in bad faith and for political purposes, rather than for any reason of national security. (19/10/2007)

Hundreds of riot police were deployed and police used water canons and tear gas against crowds at a banned rally protesting against changes to Malaysia’s electoral system. It was Malaysia’s biggest anti-government protest in almost ten years, with estimated numbers at 30,000. (10/11/2007)

Namibia

The lawyer for an accused facing rape charges claimed that police tortured his client to induce a confession. (06/11/2007)

New Zealand

Protesters demonstrating against a proposed NZ-US free trade agreement were subject to police violence; protestors approaching the venue of a US-NZ Partnership Forum meeting were punched in the face, a number of other protestors were beaten, and three were arrested. (12/09/2007)

Legislation allowing for the establishment of an independent police conduct authority was passed through Parliament, receiving royal assent. It was described as a "significant event in the history of civilian oversight of policing in New Zealand". (20/09/2007)

New Zealand police arrested 17 people in a series of 'anti-terrorist' raids across the North Island, with Maori and environmental activists the main target. It was the first operation under New Zealand's Terrorism Suppression Act. Police said they had information that a number of people had taken part in military-style training camps involving the use of firearms and other weapons. Police Commissioner Howard Broad announced that the group was training for military style activities. (13/10/2007)

Hundreds of armed New-Zealand police were involved in large-scale anti-terrorism raids in Northern New Zealand and arrested 17 people. Warrants were obtained under New Zealand’s Arms Act and the Terrorism Supression Act. If charged under New Zealand’s Terrorism Suppression Act, it will be the first time NZ’s counter-terrorism laws have been used. The raids were met with criticism. (15/10/2007)

Parliament voted to strengthen existing anti-terrorism laws through the enactment of the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill. The Government claims that the bill had no relevance to police raids in October and the Solicitor-General’s decision not to charge people under the current anti-terrorism laws. (13/11/2007)

Nigeria

The Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) urged a dramatic increase in funding allocations to state security institutions. (11/09/2007)

A police officer was arrested for torturing a person to death who was in police custody for attempting to steal a jerry can of palm oil. (27/09/2007)

A team of police reportedly opened fire on a young man peacefully celebrating in the Eid El-Fitri festival. (19/10/2007)

Pakistan

In the aftermath of the police crackdown protests in Islamabad on 29 September where numerous lawyers, journalists and activist were injured when police used batons and tear gas, Islamabad's Chief of Police was arrested and suspended under a court order given by Chief Justice Chaudhry. In a Supreme Court hearing to investigate the police brutality during the protests, Chaudhry also called for the suspension the city's deputy administration chief and another senior police officer. The protests were against the decision to allow President Musharraf to stand for re-election for another 5-year-term. (01/10/2007)

In the investigation into Karachi bomb blasts that killed almost 140 people, Former Prime Minister Benezir Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples' Party requested the removal of a Deputy Inspector General of Police from the investigation because he was present in 1999 when her husband was almost killed by police torture. (21/10/2007)

Chief Justice Chaudhry of the Supreme Court declared the deployment of plain clothes police officers illegal. On the same day a judge ordered nine police officials misusing their powers in the illegal detention and torture of an under trial prisoner near Islamabad be brought before the court. (24/10/2007)

Rising complaints of police brutality and lawlessness resulted in the suspension of four policemen by Inspector General of Punjab Police Ahmad Nasim in Lahore. (25/10/2007)

At a meeting of the National Public Safety Commission (NPSC), current Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz urged for the establishment of a credible system of police accountability and directed all chief ministers to implement the Police Order 2002, especially those sections relating to the fixing of three-year terms for district police officers and station officers. (31/10/2007)

The High Court of Sindh (SHC) demanded that investigations police bring a suspect before the Karachi division of the Anti-Terrorism Court after hearing a constitutional petition challenging the legality of his detention. He alleges that the police tortured him and forced him to confess he belonged to a criminal gang. (01/11/2007)

General Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan. (03/11/2007)

Police emboldened by state of emergency powers arrested hundreds of activists and opposition members and placed them in custody in government buildings and barbed-wire compounds.

Up to 500 people were arrested by police. Police sources stated that up to 1500 were on a list of people to be arrested. (04/11/2007)

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called on police to enhance their role in maintaining law and order and protecting lives of citizens, in an address to a the National Police Academy. He also stated that police reforms were “the cornerstone of the government’s overall agenda of improving governance in the country.” (07/11/2007)

Leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif condemned police violence taking place under the state of emergency against lawyers, students and human rights groups. (09/11/2007)

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) condemned the illegal detention of its supporters opposing the state of emergency. The PPP alleged that supporters have been subject to baton charging, tear gassing and aerial firing, and that brutal human rights violations were being committed by the police.

Police arrested Pakistani Politician Imran Khan when he was taking part in a student protest in Lahore against General Musharraf’s state of emergency. Police said he would be charged under anti-terrorism laws. He was previously being held in custody under a 90-day house arrest detntion order. (15/11/2007)

South Africa

A warrant was issued for the arrest of South Africa's controversial National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi for ties to crime syndicates. He has long come under harsh criticism for failing to reduce one of the worlds highest crime rates.(27/09/2007)

The torture and death of suspects in police custody was reported in Mpumalanga. Despite reports to the contrary, the Police Commissioner claimed that the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) is investigating. (11/10/2007)

The Institute for Security Studies hosted a conference considering policing in South Africa with topics of debate including the proposed restructure of the police service and the impact of Community Police Forums (CPFs) on police accountability. (01/11/2007)

Sri Lanka

The Special Rapporteur on Torture visited from 1 to 8 October to "assess the situation of torture and ill-treatment in the country [by both police and security forces and non-government forces including the LTTE], and to strengthen a process of sustained cooperation with the Government to assist it in its efforts to improve the administration of justice." He concluded that torture is widely practiced in Sri Lanka, also visiting police stations and receiving detainees' first hand accounts of torture. Although some accountability mechanisms are in place they are not functioning to the best of their ability and there needs to be independent and effective mechanisms to make regular surprise visits to all places of detention in Sri Lanka, conduct private interviews with detainees and medically examine them. He believes this is the most effective way to prevent police torture. (29/10/2007)

Trinidad & Tobago

Members of a Parent Teacher Association holding a demonstration against substandard school facilities claimed that protestors were subject to police brutality. (05/09/2007)

Uganda

Over one thousand armed counter-terrorism Special Police Constables were deployed in Kampala in the lead up to the November Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. (09/10/2007)

A new Human Rights Watch report identified serious human rights violations in the law enforcement functions of the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) in the Karamoja region. (16/10/2007)

More allegations have emerged of torture by the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Ugandan police, formerly the Violent Crimes Crack Unit (VCCU). The victim alleges to have been transferred to a secret police cells without food until a human rights group located him. Earlier this year the RRU were condemned by Amnesty International for the torture of over forty individuals held in incommunicado detention in August. (01/11/2007)

United Kingdom

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman issued a report strongly criticising police in Northern Ireland for mishandling serious death threats made against prominent human rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson, who after a career handling a number of high profile IRA and nationalist cases, was murdered eight years ago when a bomb was planted under her car. (19/09/2007)

A court sat to hear charges against the Scotland Yard Metropolitan Police under health and safety laws over police errors that led to the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in a 2005 anti-terrorism operation. police. (05/10/2007)

A police officer involved in the 2005 anti-terrorism operation in the death of Brazilian Jean de Menezes described the events to the London court in a prosecution of the metropolitan police under health and safety laws. (08/10/2007)

The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Office released an independent report over the first man to be fatally shot by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan criticised the operation but accepted the shooting was justified. (11/10/2007)

Human rights groups in Scotland collected evidence on the role of Scottish airports in rendition flights and gave it to the Crown Office for investigation. Groups have been calling out for the Scottish Government to agree on an “anti-rendition” policy banning the transportation of terrorism suspects from the airport to places where they may be tortured by foreign police or security forces. (28/10/2007)

London police were found guilty over the lethal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, mistaken for a suicide bomber, in 2005. The Office of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police have been found guilty of the single charge of breaching health and safety rules which require it to protect the public. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will be publishing a report on the incident. (01/11/2007)

Sri Lankan Colonel Karuna – the head of a LTTE breakaway group Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TVMP) accused of severe human rights violations – was arrested in the UK in a joint operation between the newly-created Border and Immigration Agency and the Metropolitan police. He was arrested for travelling on a false passport. Human rights groups demanded an investigation into war crimes allegations. The Home Office said if appropriate they would refer the case to the Metropolitan Police for criminal action. (02/11/2007)

Speaking before a counter-terrorism debate in the House of Commons, the Home Secretary stated that the government has not decided how long police should be able to hold terrorism suspects without charge. There is presently a 28-day detention limit. The Conservatives suggested a 58-day limit. (07/11/2007)

The family of Jean Charles de Menezes demanded the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. (11/11/2007)

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair stated his intention to retain his position despite criticism over the handling of the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting and pressure that he quit.

Zimbabwe

Members of a human rights group complained of brutal arrest while taking part in a peaceful march in Harare to oppose police brutality and assault while in police custody. (17/09/2007)

A 64-year-old protester died from injuries sustained from police during a public demonstration in June calling for a new Constitution. She reportedly suffered severe fractures to her chest after being arrested and brutalised with other protesters at the Harare Central Police Station.

A spokesperson for the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) was released on bail after six days in police custody and charged with being a criminal nuisance after the police alleged he was undermining police authority by publicly describing police as President Mugabe’s dogs in advocating for constitutional guarantees of police accountability. The NCA claim the police denied him food and legal representation in custody. (09/10/2007)

A human rights group released a report describing routine instances of violence, torture and sexual abuse of women by Zimbabwean police and security forces based on quantitative data collected from 2000 to 2007. (10/10/2007)

The International Bar Association condemned the Zimbabwean police force of being partisan and severely repressive. Their report stated that there are few guarantees of a free and fair election (scheduled for March next year) due to evidence of widespread police abuses including torture, intimidation and illegal arrest. (08/11/2007)

Women of Zimbabwe Arise have blamed police torture for the death of their founding member. (13/11/2007)