Security Officers must do Better, Selection of New Police High Command Underway

(ZIZ News) — “The police, the Defence Force and all the law enforcement agents must perform better in 2016 than they did in 2015,” said the country’s National Security Minister, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, recently, when he met with media professionals.

Speaking on the issue of safety and security, Dr. Harris said despite the challenge made, he believes the country’s police and Defence Force officers are working well.

He therefore used the opportunity to give an update on the promotional interviews being carried out by the police force, noting that “the gazetted officers have been interviewed by a panel with respect to filling positions under a restructured police force with four directorates as per the 2016-2019 Strategic Plan which we should formally present to the public in due course.”

Dr. Harris said that plan is under review by the Cabinet and once accepted, it will form part of the police force’s overall outreach efforts.

As it relates to the new Police High Command, particularly the person who will serve as Commissioner of Police, Dr. Harris said there is a process that must be followed.

“We are hearing a lot of names being tossed here, there and everywhere. I am not going to engage in that exercise because the way in which the service works is that recommendations comes through the ministry, a recommendation comes, it then goes on to the relevant agency, Police Service Commission etcetera and even up to the Governor General before it is formalised and finalised and at any point in the process, those recommendations can be subjected to change,” Dr. Harris explained.(ZIZ News) — “The police, the Defence Force and all the law enforcement agents must perform better in 2016 than they did in 2015,” said the country’s National Security Minister, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, recently, when he met with media professionals.

Speaking on the issue of safety and security, Dr. Harris said despite the challenge made, he believes the country’s police and Defence Force officers are working well.

He therefore used the opportunity to give an update on the promotional interviews being carried out by the police force, noting that “the gazetted officers have been interviewed by a panel with respect to filling positions under a restructured police force with four directorates as per the 2016-2019 Strategic Plan which we should formally present to the public in due course.”

Dr. Harris said that plan is under review by the Cabinet and once accepted, it will form part of the police force’s overall outreach efforts.

As it relates to the new Police High Command, particularly the person who will serve as Commissioner of Police, Dr. Harris said there is a process that must be followed.

“We are hearing a lot of names being tossed here, there and everywhere. I am not going to engage in that exercise because the way in which the service works is that recommendations comes through the ministry, a recommendation comes, it then goes on to the relevant agency, Police Service Commission etcetera and even up to the Governor General before it is formalised and finalised and at any point in the process, those recommendations can be subjected to change,” Dr. Harris explained.