Traffic Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Singh has urged members of the public not to offer bribes to Police officers while encouraging anyone who is asked for money to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Starting Point podcast, Singh addressed the long standing perception of corruption within the Guyana Police Force and said members of the public should not assume that officers are seeking money to overlook traffic violations.
“We don’t want the $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000, keep it for yourself,” Singh said.
He acknowledged that allegations of corruption have historically followed Police officers throughout their careers, regardless of an individual officer’s record or integrity.
“This issue of corruption has always followed a policeman throughout his career.
Notwithstanding how clean or clear conscience you have, or your records, I want to tell you something: we are not asking for it,” Singh said.
Singh urged that members of the public who encounter an officer soliciting a bribe should report the incident rather than participate in it.
“Where there is a case that we asked for it, report it,” he said, pointing to several channels through which complaints can be made, including the Commissioner of Police, the Traffic Chief, police commanders and the Special Organised Crime Unit.
He also stressed that both demanding and offering a bribe can constitute a criminal offence.
“It’s criminal to demand with menace, it’s criminal to compromise yourself.
“Soliciting a bribe to forgo prosecution for an offence that is committed. It is also criminal for you to bribe someone to forego prosecution,” Singh said.
Against that backdrop, Singh advised motorists to reduce opportunities for encounters that could result in requests for money by ensuring their vehicles and documents comply with the law.
“My advice having said that is that every member of the public restrict the opportunity to have to pay us anything, to have to do any favours for you,” he said.
He urged motorists to ensure that their vehicle tint is within the legally permitted level, that they do not have prohibited blue-coloured lights, that their tyres are in good condition and that they are properly licensed to drive.
“Don’t be guilty of paying the Police anything to do anything,” Singh said.
Addressing speeding specifically, Singh said motorists should not expect to avoid enforcement by offering money to Police officers.
Singh also pointed to the increasing use of technology in traffic enforcement, saying its eventual purpose is to reduce opportunities for subjective decision making by individual officers.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
