Complaints against Police:
NPC assures public of justice
Rasika SOMARATHNA
The newly formed National Police Commission (NPC) assured the public
that it would make all effort to ensure that justice is done with regard
to public complaints against the Police.
Since February 23, 2012, the NPC has received 224 public complaints
and they have identified 129 of these for investigations.
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Senaka
Walgampaya |
NPC chairman Senaka Walgampaya PC during his first interaction with
the media yesterday, said the public could approach his Commission with
confidence.
He said his Commission would be truly independent and there would be
no room for political or other interference in its affairs.
“Following investigations, the Commission’s findings and
recommendations would be forwarded to the Inspector General of Police
and Public Services Commission for action. There would be a follow-up
mechanism to see whether appropriate action is taken,” he added.
Anyone found guilty of trying to influence NPC investigations could
come under a sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment and a fine of
Rs100,000, NPC secretary D M K B Tennekoon said.
Walgampaya said not only civilians, but Police officers too could
complain to the commission if they have any grievances such as
interference in their investigations.
He said the NPC would present its observations and recommendations on
complaints to Parliament and the President periodically. They would also
release an annual report.
The newly appointed seven member commission held it’s inaugural
meeting on March 1, 2012. The NPC meets every Wednesday to look in to
the matters under its purview.
The NPC has devised a method to place complaints into three
categories and have set a time frame to investigate them. The number one
category complaints are to be fully investigated within one month and
second and third within two and three months.
They have appointed 10 provincial directors and have established
offices to receive public complaints . Offices in
the North and East too are to be shortly opened.
The offices would be manned by senior and eminent public servants.
The IGP has also agreed to provide a senior Police officer exclusively
to help the NCP investigations at its head office.
Walgampaya said the public who complained against the Police during
April 2009 to February 2012 in which period the NPC did not function can
re-direct their complaints if they are not satisfied with the outcome of
the concluded investigations. outcome.
He said the NPC could not investigate any anonymous complaints and
urged the public to approach the commission with confidence. The NPC
would also provide legal advise to the public if needed.
The NPC is empowered to entertain and investigate Public Complaints
against the Police Force or police officers and provide redress to the
affected parties according to the law. In accordance with the powers
vested in it the NPC has also drafted new “Rules of Procedure” for
Public complaints. The rules will be published in the Government Gazette
and will become operative shortly.
According to the Chairman, the NPC also gives support to transform
the Police Force into a disciplined, credible and community responsive
service by entertaining and investigating public complaints against the
Police Force or Police Officers with a view to upgrading Human Rights,
Public Accountability and respect for the Rule of Law.
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