EDITORIAL

The Ombudsman’s recently-released report fingering the police as the top human rights offender in the country has confirmed the sentiments of many who have over the years complained about the heavy-handedness of the armed forces when dealing with civilians.



Police brutality has resulted in police and members of the public not seeing eye to eye, making community policing goals difficult to attain.

With police officers having become perpetrators instead of protectors, the current state of affairs must be addressed by those leading the security cluster to reverse the upward trend of abuse.

It’s no secret that the police have lost several court cases after members of the public approached the courts for assistance, and this continues to cost taxpayers millions.

Arbitrary arrests and incarceration of offenders under inhumane conditions have also become the order of the day as members of armed forces blatantly abuse their power instead of following set protocols.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has further worsened things, with officers using regulations to effect arbitrary arrests.

Last year, a group of independent United Nations experts recalled that "the prohibition of arbitrary detention is absolute even during times of public emergencies", and urged governments worldwide to prevent deprivation of liberty in the context of the measures adopted for controlling the spread of the virus.

The police must at all times act professionally in the execution of their duties if they ever hope to win back public trust and support.