The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said people should complain to the Police Complaints Inspectorate if they are unsatisfied with the response of the Complaints and Corruption Branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to their complaints.

His comments yesterday came after police statistics for 2024 showed complaints against officers soared by 114 percent last year. There were 315 complaints compared to 147 complaints in 2023.

Police said 64 civilian complaints remain under investigation, while 43 were closed without further action. Of these, 37 were deemed unfounded, lacked evidence, were unsubstantiated, withdrawn, or resulted in compensation. Six were informally resolved or led to civil action advice, while nine were sent to the deputy commissioner for a police tribunal.

Six corruption complaints against officers are under investigation, and four were withdrawn.

Meanwhile, 27 internal police complaints are still under review. Thirteen cases resulted in discharge, interdiction, or acquittal, while 51 were withdrawn.

One complaint was formally resolved, eight led to compensation or reprimand, and 45 were referred to the police tribunal. One case was closed due to insufficient evidence.

Mr Munroe said when people have complaints involving officers, they should first complain to the Complaints and Corruption Branch of the police force.

“Why? Because they have investigative resources to deal with it,” he said. “If they bring about a settlement, then fine. If they don’t, then you can complain further.”

The Police Complaints Inspectorate is a civilian-led organisation established in 2009 to review the Complaints and Corruption Branch’s actions and investigations. However, the United States has repeatedly highlighted in its annual human rights reports the lack of information about that independent body.

Tanya McCartney, a past chairperson of the Inspectorate, recommended establishing a secretariat, insisting the current body lacks the operational capacity to fulfil its mandate.

Mr Munroe said he has worked to beef up the Inspectorate’s resources.

“We’ve improved it by giving them clerical and administrative support,” he said.

“They were to look at how things are done in sister countries to potentially see what are more efficient methods, and then it’ll be simply in terms of when they get more requests for oversight and for them to be given the resources they request. The function they have is to audit complaints, and if somebody actually comes and complains to them about unequal treatment, then they can look at a specific matter.”

Mr Munroe said people can reach the Inspectorate by sending letters through the Ministry of National Security.

He said while many people voice concerns on social media, contact the media, or reach out to him directly, few file formal complaints with the Police Complaints Inspectorate. He emphasised that the effectiveness of the system depends on how often it is used.