Police Commissioner Tyrone Griffith has attracted stinging condemnation from a young lawyer who described as “unfortunate” his recent suggestions that officers of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) do not engage in brutality.
To the contrary, Asante Brathwaite, who was called to the bar only last year told Barbados TODAY that she has already encountered clients who sustained “mysterious” injuries after interrogation due to “strategic forms of corporal punishment” being used by lawmen to get confessions.
She is therefore, pleading with authorities to establish an independent body to hear accusations of police brutality and deliver swift justice for citizens who fall victim.
“I applaud those officers who work within the confines of human rights and dignity, who tirelessly put in the hard work and carry out thorough investigations. On the other hand, Mr Commissioner, there exists the thorns – who I often call the ‘Bruce Lee’ and ‘Wesley Snipes’ officers, who believe the only way they can extract information from an accused is by giving him the ‘rod of correction’,” Brathwaite complained.
“This is a form of interrogation where strategic forms of corporal punishment, sometimes while naked to the visible eyes are used on those who either refuse to cooperate or give the wrong answer to that which the officer wants to hear. It is this type of abuse, Mr Commissioner that you need to keep an eye on,” the passionate attorney warned.
In response to suggestions from leading criminal law attorney, Andrew Pilgrim, QC, that abusive officers are often responsible for the force’s high confession rates, Commissioner Griffith advised that the account of alleged criminals ought not to be taken over that of officers of the law.
Brathwaite however, suggested the Commissioner bear in mind that alleged killers are innocent until proven guilty – “a right afforded by the constitution”.
“As Commissioner of Police, you have a duty to ensure that the police force is functioning effectively and I understand. But don’t tell the public that there is no abuse,” Brathwaite added.
As a social worker and community worker, Brathwaite said she was often bombarded with complaints of police brutality. But as a lawyer, she has gained first-hand accounts from clients who entered police interrogation in “good” health and mysteriously needed medical attention and prescription drugs for extreme pain.
“There are instances where the abuse becomes too overwhelming and the innocent become guilty in order to stop the abuse.
“I have personally experienced station visits where my clients were seen by the police doctor and prescriptions were sitting at front desk catching dust and no relatives of the accused had been contacted to fill out the prescription… In the meantime, the accused is left to endure pain and discomfort awaiting the arrival of the said prescription. If this is not inhumane or degrading treatment then nothing is,” Brathwaite complained.
She noted that victims are often very afraid to complain of police abuse for fear of victimization and because the report is being made to the colleagues of police officers.
But she argued that the March 2020 case of Roger Sealy provides much-needed insight into the realities of the police force. The 28-year-old’s murder case was dismissed after it was determined that statements given to police were given under duress and were therefore inadmissible. Sealy claimed he was beaten while in police detention.
“You see, Mr Commissioner, sometimes the story that an accused person gives is the gospel truth,” Brathwaite argued before pleading for further redress to be provided in such instances.
“Where it is shown that a person’s constitutional rights were infringed, yes there is redress under the Constitution that you can see, but most of the time when they realize that the confession statement wasn’t voluntary, the most that happens is that the confession statement is thrown out and it is left up to the individual to seek some kind of recourse,” she added.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb
