Cops want money, not leave

Secretary of the Police Second Division Sgt Noel Chase said that his association has already sent a proposal to the Ministry of National Security for government to consider buying out the leave of officers. He said that he has not received any response from the ministry. Minister of National Security Martin Joseph, when contacted on his cellphone yesterday, said that he was out of the country and was not in a position to discuss the matter. He returns to the country today.

The police service has a staff of about 7,000 officers but sources claim that approximately 4,000 of those officers are currently carrying out duties.

In 2004, a proposal was sent to the then Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee to increase the strength of the service to about 10,000. While that proposal was discussed, no decision was taken on it.

Yesterday, Ag Police Commis-sioner Winston Cooper admitted that there is a manpower shortage and that this was a source for concern, but he said that a proposal for government to buy out the leave of officers is being strongly considered.

At the end of 2006, according to sources, records show that 250 officers will leave the police service. To make matters worse, the recruitment for police officers was put on hold for two years and recently 150 trainees began training for entry into the service.

They will graduate in two month’s time.

Police officers complained yesterday that on a daily and nightly basis only two officers are in the charge room of police stations, simply because the other officers are out carrying out guard duties.

“The reality is that with only two officers in the charge room we are unable to respond to reports, and it is the public which will suffer,” officers said yesterday.

They added that police officers also have to do duties at the hospitals, Parliament, the Forensic Science Centre as well as guard duties at the home of several top public officials.

This, said officers, is apart from body guard duties for senior government officials and duties at the homes of other top officials.

Research shows that some officers are on extended sick leave while others are on normal sick leave, vacation leave, study leave. Some officers have also been seconded to other departments and some are on-off duty leave. Others are on suspension and officers are in court attending to matters.