Red Thread calls for Police to be “properly trained” to handle DV cases

– Crime Chief encourages civilians to video officers’ inappropriate behaviours
Red Thread on Friday revealed its findings from a two-year programme at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen campus, where a call was made for Police ranks to be trained to deal with domestic violence cases in a more professional manner.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Crime Chief Paul Williams, without hesitation encourage civilians to record the inappropriate behaviours of the officers who are not willing to take their reports.
Williams admitted he is aware there are some issues plaguing the Force and did not waver to state, “It is important now, as it relates to our partnership, that we develop a moderate evaluation mechanism. I would like to see people video them; use your smart phones and video them when you go into the station to make your complaint and they behave unprofessionally. Bring the evidence, and we will deal with them,” he promised.
The importance of the training was endorsed by the small gathering, which agreed that the country has seen numerous cases of domestic violence, which has been significantly increasing.
It is against this backdrop that the need for capacity building was reiterated.
Important to note is that persons who conducted research during Red Thread’s programme complained bitterly of officers’ attitude when it came to dealing with those matters.
While presenting their report, the troubled monitors who were attached to the Lethem area reported that at least two officers in that area gave them a challenging time in conducting their research.
One of the monitors assigned to that location even reported that she heard an officer shouting at a domestic violence victim, and she noted with much concern that they had a challenging time in encouraging those same persons to speak out.
The Police, they argued, have been doing nothing but scaring those persons off, and inspiring them to be silent by their actions.
In addition to the officers in that region, the ranks of Bartica were also bashed, as the monitors within that zone also reported issues with the Police.
“We continue to work with whatever resources we have, and try as much as possible to make an impact and have those ranks equipped with the knowledge they need,” Williams fired back. He further explained that the commander and sub-division officers are responsible for locating persons who can aid in providing these kinds of training for officers.
Williams was also keen to note that in cases where persons are mishandled by whoever officer is on duty, they can make calls to those officers’ superiors at the said moment to file a complaint, which can result in action being taken against those officers.
The project, launched by Red Thread two years ago, was conceptualised with the intention of changing persons’ attitudes in relation to domestic violence cases, to examine the performance of the GPF and courts in dealing with these matters, and to draft recommendations to these entities with the hope of providing an avenue for them to develop their capacities.
The areas which were targeted under the project include Better Hope/Plaisance, La Parfaite Harmonie, Anna Regina, Bartica and Lethem.
Over the 24-month period of the exercise, close to 6000 persons were engaged during house to house visits and community meetings.
As a result of the project, 743 victims of domestic and sexual violence were supported. In many cases, victims of domestic violence, especially men, have been reportedly mocked as they attempted to report the unlawful assault.