Police has always been in the lime light for abuse of human rights while carrying out their operations and corruption. Different organisations have demanded for immediate action on officers that are involved in the different acts of abuse of office.
Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga has confirmed that the Police Authority and the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee (Subordinate officer), that are respectively responsible for overseeing the Police Disciplinary Complaints system, have dismissed, and also recommended the dismissal of officers found to have breached standards.
“The Disciplinary Complaints against Senior Officers and all officers charged in the criminal courts of law, are dealt with by the Police Authority, chaired by all the Hon. Minister for Internal Affairs, while disciplinary complaints against subordinate officers, are dealt with by the Police Council, chaired by the IGP,” said Enanga.
The respective panels therefore, investigated the serious allegations of Professional misconduct across the country and decided, the appropriate sanction for the 153 officers was dismissal and discharge respectively.
The categories are as follows;
In the first category, a total of 73 officers, were dismissed between 2015 and 2019, following internal disciplinary actions. 41 were absent from duty without official leave were charged with discreditable or irregular conduct, 05 were dismissed for neglect of duty, 12 on grounds of Scandalous manner, 01 for causing loss to Government Property, 03 for drunkardness, 02 for withdrawal from duty o1 for damage to clothing or Articles supplied for duty and 02 for disobedience of lawful orders.
The second category is of personnel pending formal dismissal by the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee. Under this category 18 subordinate officers are awaiting their formal letters of dismissal for scandalous behaviour, corrupt practices, Away without official leave, Neglect of Duty, discreditable or irregular conduct and theft.
The third category comprises of officers already charged by the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee and charged. Under this category 54 officers, were discharged from the force for being Absent without official leave, neglect of duty, scandalous manner, drunkardness, discreditable or irregular conduct and causing loss to Government.
Additionally, 08 officers are pending formal discharge by the Police Council Appointments/Promotions Committee (Surbordinate) , for being Away without official leave, scandalous manner and drunkerdness.
“As a force we expect the highest personal and professional standards of all officers. Therefore, any allegations of behaviour that do not meet the set standards, are rigorously investigated in accordance with the Police Act and Standing orders. All the officers indicated above, had the cases of gross misconduct proven against them, and for that matter cannot continue enforcing the law or using their previous positions of power,” Enanga said.
“We strongly believe such stern measures will further help in reducing the many cases of civil litigation against the police and the Attorney General. It will further help the public to have confidence in police officers who have a duty to be honest, act with integrity and not compromise or abuse their position,” he added.