Police call for overseas back-up

The Barbados Police Service (BPS) has engaged overseas expertise in helping it find out who leaked a confidential internal police report in a case involving local parliamentarian Neil Rowe.

This was disclosed on Thursday by Commissioner of Police (COP) Richard Boyce who indicated that the key to a possible breakthrough in the investigations may depend on the technology.

“That investigation is continuing. We have reached a stage where we are engaging our partners overseas because it is heavily based on the technological aspect of it. So we are waiting on that information to come to us,” Commissioner Boyce revealed in an interview with Barbados TODAY.

“We are hoping that we would get results in the near future, but we are progressing, looking at all angles. All avenues that are out there we are following them and hoping that we will get it over as soon as possible,” he added.

Forty-three-year-old Rowe was charged with having sexual intercourse with a woman on September 18, without her consent or was reckless as to whether she consented. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Deidre McKenna in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on October 24.

The accused, who is the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly was granted bail in the sum of $10 000 which Rowe secured with one surety. His next court appearance is on January 30.

In his Christmas message, Commissioner Boyce said the apparent breach of confidentiality that originated from within the constabulary does not accurately represent “who we are”.

“During the year, there was an apparent breach of confidentiality relating to a report that was made to us for investigation. We condemn such behaviour in the strongest terms. This does not accurately represent who we are,” he declared.

On the day of Rowe’s court appearance, his lawyer Roger Forde, K.C., called for whoever is responsible for leaking the police report purportedly given by his client’s accuser to be held accountable.

Magistrate McKenna, before whom the St Michael North West MP appeared, also urged the Commissioner of Police to deal with the matter.

Forde and associate attorney-at-law Safiya Moore raised the issue of confidentiality in the court and again with the media outside.

He expressed his concern to the Magistrate that the circulation of a police report on social media could deter victims of crime from coming forward in the future.

“…On social media, what we have is a report that was made to the Oistins Station. I think the report is what was told to the police and things like that. Ma’am, that is a bad signal. If anything happens to ladies they will be scared to come to the police . . . and this has to stop. I am very concerned . . . . “

The senior lawyer speculated that the leak may have been the doing of someone else.

“I don’t think the police would be so irresponsible,” he said then.

Outside the courthouse, Forde also addressed reporters on the matter as he expressed concern about the manner in which his client’s case was investigated.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb