POLICE Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West calls the passing of the polygraph bill in the lower house a positive step towards rooting out bad eggs in the police service.
“It is a move the PCA welcomes. Once it is administered properly, it is an effective tool. Most protective services worldwide use polygraphing,” West said.
Speaking with Newsday via cellphone on June 22, West described it as a tool that can also be used to root out corruption in any public service.
On June 21, the government and opposition in an unusual move teamed up and unanimously passed a bill which needed 25 votes. The bill authorises the use of polygraph tests, drug testing and biometric identification for members of the protective services, as well as certain offices within the Judicial and Legal Service and the civil service.
West said, “It can lead to a better, more trustworthy service and a trusting public.”
West, an attorney, said he is not a specialist but believes it should be used regularly within the police and suggested a "bi-annual testing for regular officers," and officers operating in “sensitive units” should be polygraphed frequently.
Retired UWI lecturer Darius Figuera also supports the bill but believes it should have been passed many years ago. He called it a necessary instrument that needs to be used often, to understand its effectiveness.
“We have a serious transnational organised crime problem. The bill is late if you intend to police your national security apparatus to keep ahead of organised crime.”
Figuera said, while the bill makes polygraph testing compulsory, it is how those in charge use it, to get a clear idea of what is going on with organised crime in the national security system. He said its effectiveness will be determined in the future.
“Every bill has to be exercised fully in order for it to be effective.”
President of the Police Second Division Association ASP Gideon Dickson was not available to comment on June 22 but intends to issue a statement on the development.
The Prime Minister, during his contribution to the bill in Parliament on June 21, said this legislation would benefit the public by enhancing national security and ensuring officers are thoroughly vetted. He said international partners often hesitate to co-operate owing to trust issues arising from some officers' involvement in criminal activities.
Rowley said the bill aims to address these concerns by ensuring officers meet the highest standards and are above reproach.
“Countries that we share interests with and that help us with national security, especially information pertinent to our own national security, will not deal with us or with some officers. They often know more about our officers than we do.”
He said the legislation is needed to ensure all available tools to prevent unsuitable people from holding positions that could harm the state and national security.
Before voting, Rowley urged the opposition to support the bill, saying while they do not have to fight crime directly, they can contribu
