A Political Puzzle Over Police Control

• In Event: Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement

Abstract

The extent to which a police organisation is under political control, to that extent there would be implications for police investigations in political and state corruption. Since crime overall has become a very controversial political issue across the Caribbean, the independence of the Commissioner (Chief) has become critical. Some civilian oversight is desirable but direct political influence in multi-party democracies raises questions of public confidence and police integrity. As illustration, in the Caribbean's richest and ethnically diversified country, Trinidad and Tobago, governments have repeatedly tried a puzzling mixture of independence and political control. The constitutional veto previously held by the Prime Minister over the appointment of the Commissioner was removed 'to reduce political control.' However, while on one hand the country has a constitutionally 'independent' Police Service Commission to appoint a Commissioner and three deputies, the recent law requires parliament to approve or disapprove of such appointments. The government says this role of parliament is 'to remove partisan politics.' But the Prime Minister directs the majority vote in parliament, thereby retaining political control over the appointment and indirectly, the Prime Minister's veto. The puzzling implications are discussed.

Author

• Ramesh Deosaran, University of the West Indies