Police must be identifiable

How does a citizen identify a police officer in plainclothes, especially as their normal arrogance ensures they do not condescend to identify themselves? The assailant who attacked the officer could legitimately claim he did not know that the man who was attacking his brother was a policeman. He would be justified in arguing that he saw two men beating his brother and intervened in his defence.

Repeatedly, police officers accost members of the public while in civilian wear, saying they are officers without providing proper identification, and expect the fact they are officers is enough. The public deserves better than that.

Police officers must be clearly identifiable without having to declare themselves so as to leave the public in no doubt as to their status before they can expect full cooperation.

The over-militarisation of the Police Service is a dangerous development which should be curtailed, the sooner the better.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH Carapichaima