THE police ‘do not and will not’ have the power to detain suspects indefinitely without charge, the Home Affairs Minister said today.
In a statement read out in the States, Senator Wendy Kinnard insisted that she had not given them the authority to do so by ministerial order.
Senator Kinnard apologised for the way in which an amendment to the law on detention, now withdrawn, had been handled and indicated that a revised amendment would be put forward.
Last week, after members of the legal profession had expressed concern about the implications of the amendment, the JEP asked members of the States force how long they could detain a person without charge. The duty inspector, the custody sergeant, the acting chief inspector of operations and the police’s press officer all said that the force had the authority to detain ‘indefinitely’.
Article posted on 17th June, 2008 - 2.58pm
2 Article Comments
Lets hope its correct this time round and that it gets a review in the States!
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The police seem to have been suspiciously quick and indecently keen to assume the power of indefinite suspension. A thorough investigation of the police force at senior level is now necessary in order to prevent another “misunderstanding” which may not be rescinded next time.
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