Police Commissioner blasts critics of high rate of police killings

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake has again responded to critics concerned about the surge in fatal police shootings.

Members of the security forces fatally shot 310 people last year and there have been nearly such 20 shootings so far this year.

There have been increasing calls by INDECOM (Independent Commission of Investigations),human rights groups and other critics for increased use of body-worn cameras during specialised police operations targeting criminals gangs and their leaders in order to resolve disputes in some fatal police shootings.

But in his weekly column in the Police Force Orders, Commissioner Blake urged members of the Force not to be daunted by the criticisms and continue to carry out their duties in a professional manner.

Dr Blake said he has been following the discussions over the last couple of days about police fatal shootings and body-worn cameras.

He added that he has been taking note of what he described as several attempts of a "few" to create a false perception of the issues, notwithstanding the numerous occasions that the Force has sought to clarify the misinformation and set the record straight.

According to Commissioner Blake, on many occasions, he has tried to be diplomatic and kind to even those he claimed are “viciously” trying to create the perception that challenges the legitimacy of the security forces, and breeds an environment of mistrust among the people.

He promised to be more direct when calling out what he describes as lies and misinformation.

He again insisted that the infrastructure to implement the technology for body-worn cameras is now in place and that the Police High Command is engaged in the procurement process.

Dr Blake said, despite this fact, critics continue to spread false information that the High Command is still awaiting the implementation of the infrastructure.

The Police High Command is not opposed to body-worn cameras, he insisted, insisting that most of the one thousand cameras procured by the Force last year have been deployed.

He railed against the critics and “so-called security experts, bashing the Force, claiming that they are doing so in order to make a "living" by being purveyors of bad news through their platforms.

The Police Commissioner also dismissed claims that the police have been engaged in unlawful and unjustified fatal shootings.

He said the Police Force is enjoying success in its fight against crime through effective and sensible strategies and again warned that there are ruthless elements in the society who are determined to kill innocent people.
 
He pointed to a deadly attack in St James last week in which a 51 year-old man and a 61 year-old woman were shot on their way home, disclosing that the killers wanted the motor vehicle.

Against this background, Commissioner Blake is urging vocal critics and various groups and organizations to step up their appeals to criminals not to raise their weapons against the police when they are confronted by them.