|
|
|
| NEWS > 27 March 2008 |
Other related articles:
Fireman awarded £15k for wrong
A fireman has been awarded £15,000 compensation after he was assaulted and wrongly arrested in a restaurant by police officers who thought he was a drug dealer.
John James, aged 37, from Oldbury, Sandwell, suffered several injuries after he was "roughly" handcuffed, he claimed. He had his arms twisted behind his back and was forced down on to his knees by a police officer, according to his solicitors.
Officers grabbed Mr James, a fireman with Gloucestershire Fire Services, after mistaking him for a drug dealer they were told had been operating in the area. They approached... Read more
|
 Article sourced from
|
|
Cayman Net News - grand cayman
27 March 2008
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
|
|
Governor puts senior police of
The Governor of the Cayman Islands, His Excellency Stuart Jack, CVO, announced on Thursday, 27 March that he has put three senior police officers on required leave to facilitate enquiries into allegations against officers of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service . Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan, Deputy Commissioner Rudolph Dixon and Detective Chief Superintendent John Jones were put on required leave with immediate effect to enable an investigating team from the Metropolitan Police Service led by DCS Martin Bridger to proceed with their enquiries.
This action follows a separate investigation by Mr Bridger’s team into serious allegations made against the Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis and Editor-in-Chief of Cayman Net News Desmond Seales.
“The investigating team has shown that these allegations were false. However, in the course of their original investigation certain other matters have come to light which now, in the interest of protecting the high standards of the RCIPS, we must look into,” the Governor explained.
Although the Governor said that it could cause “some anxiety”, he urged the community to look at the positive outcomes of these matters: “It sends a clear signal that regardless of position, serious allegations will be investigated, and that we are committed to pursue the highest ethical standards in public office without fear or favour. It also serves as an assurance to our community that illegal or unethical actions that tarnish the reputation or interfere with the media will not be allowed.”
Further in his statement to the media Governor Jack emphasised that the decision to take action against these top-level officers was not taken lightly: “It was after very careful examination by me of the information that have been gathered to date. I am grateful for the valuable advice received from the Attorney General’s Office. And of course I was also mindful of the high public office that these individuals hold.”
He added: “The enquiries are ongoing and I want to make it clear at this point that no judgment has been made as to the guilt, innocence or culpability of any person. The decision to put these officers on required leave was made to protect the integrity of the enquiries to be made and it shows fairness to the officers involved.”
The conditions of the required leave will be under constant review by H.E the Governor as the investigation progresses.
To lead the RCIPS in the interim the Governor has appointed David George, an UK police officer, as Acting Commissioner.
While Mr Jack pledged to make every effort to keep the community informed, he did say that the sensitivity of the issues involved as well as the sub judice rule will restrict the amount of information the investigative team can provide. The Governor urged the community to steer clear of “sensationalism and divisive politics” and instead work together to combat rumour, innuendo and mischief making.
In a separate statement, Senior Investigating Officer Martin Bridger said that much of his 30-year career as a detective has been spent dealing with issues of integrity within the police services. This included working in the Anti-Corruption Unit of London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Northern Ireland’s Police Ombudsman Office and advising other UK and European police services on how to meet the challenges offered by breaches of integrity and wrongdoing.
Mr Bridger said that he and his team had been working in the Cayman Islands for the past six months investigating serious criminal allegations made against Mr Seales and Mr Ennis, that over a two year period these individuals were in involved in a corrupt relationship.
Had the allegations been true, Mr Bridger said, they would have had the potential to undermine the criminal justice process of the Cayman Islands and put operational officers’ lives at risk.
“I am wholly satisfied that I have now established the truth in respect to these allegations. Both Mr Seales and Mr Ennis are completely innocent of the allegations and I am delighted that the investigation has prevented both of these individuals from being unfairly and inappropriately accused,” Mr Bridger said.
“I reiterate that they are totally innocent of all the allegations made against them,” he added.
Mr Bridger went on to say that, early Thursday morning, a man was arrested and is currently in custody assisting with enquiries.
Mr Desmond Seales, publisher and editor-in-chief of Cayman Net News, acknowledged that for the past few weeks he has had to put in place security measures in connection with his day-to-day personal and business activities because of his cooperation with the relevant authorities.
“I am relieved that the truth for which this news organisation strives has once again resulted in vindication in the face of negative perceptions,” Mr Seales added.
The man arrested in connection with the ongoing enquiries is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Sister Islands and Cayman Net News Assignments Editor Lyndon Martin.
|
| |
 EiP Comments:
|
|---|
|
| |
* We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper or periodical. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and we will remove the article. The articles republished on this site are provided for the purposes of research , private study, criticism , review, and the reporting of current events' We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper , periodical or other works. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and where necessary we will remove the work concerned.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 |
Ethics in Policing, based in the UK, provide information and advice about the following:
Policing Research | Police News articles | Police Corruption | International Policing | Police Web Sites | Police Forum | Policing Ethics | Police Journals | Police Publications |
|
| |
|
