WE-Change urges police sensitisation

THE EDITOR, Sir: THE RECENT arrest of a mother reporting the sexual abuse of her son by police officers at the Clarks Town Police Station is a glaring example of the weaknesses of the police force in handling sensitive matters.

Notwithstanding the establishment of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) within the police force, there continue to be complaints by several Jamaicans—including women, reporting incidencts of sexual violence— about the lack of sensitivity displayed by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

While a specialised unit within the force is a welcome initiative, there is urgent need to ensure that the majority of, if not all, police officers are equipped with the requisite tools to receive, record, and sensitively respond to victims who attend any police station to report an incident of sexual violence, particularly against children.

The Clarks Town arrest is a vivid representation of the gaps within the system.

Women’s Empowerment for Change (WE-Change) are of the view that any parent or civilian who seeks to report sexual abuse to the police should be accorded regard given the potential emotional trauma that comes with being or being close to the victim of such a violent crime.

This due regard should be heightened where the victim is a child, particularly a child of tender years. It cannot be considered good practice for the police to arrest anyone who does not act docile or agreeable enough when making a report.

WE-Change therefore urges the JCF High Command to take steps to sanction the officer who carried out the arrest as well as begin a process of sensitising police officers about the appropriate way to handle incidents of child sexual abuse regardless of how officers feel about a particular complainant. WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT FOR CHANGE