3 September 2012
The Ministry
of Police issued the latest report on its operation to continue with policying community safety and law and order.
According to the Press Statement released from the Police Commissioner's office on 3 September, the Police
Commissioner Grant O'Fee said that 27 witnesses have come forward as a result
of the operation carried out last Friday evening in Nuku'alofa. Police are
working on interviewing them all further. All information is valuable he said
and is gratified that so many people have had the courage to come
forward.
The
Commissioner has been in regular contact with the PM who is acting Commissioner
of Police. Both are of the same mind that an inquiry into the culture of the
Tongan police to address the broader issues of violence within the ministry
would be helpful.
""I
am most grateful for the assistance and support of the PM throughout this sad
business especially over his support for the inquiry" said Mr O'Fee.
"We have not got into the finer detail of the inquiry and it will take
will take some time to work through the terms of reference and membership.
".
As far as
the Nuku'alofa station is concerned the Commissioner has ordered tenders to be
called for CCTV cameras in the cell block and processing area of the main
station. This work has been prioritised in view of the recent death. "I
would like the cameras to be installed as soon as we can. Realistically it will
take some time for the equipment to be sourced, tenders to be called etc but
the sooner the better. All major stations in New Zealand as well as some
pacific islands have the system installed which records all action taken in the
charge room and cell block" he said.
The
experience in New Zealand was that the CCTV was beneficial for exposing any
excess use of force and also for exposing false allegations that are sometimes
made against police officers.
ENDS
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Authorised by Commander Grant O'Fee, Commissioner of Tonga Police, Ministry of Police, Fire Services and Prisons, Nuku'alofa.
Issued by: Ministry
of Information and Communications, Nuku'alofa, September 2012
Level
2, O.G. Sanft Building, Taufa'ahau Road, P.O. Box 1380, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Telephone: (676) 28170 Fax: (676) 24 861 Email:
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