Misuse of arms worries Police Commission

THE Police Service Commission is concerned with the misuse of arms by some police officers and has warned of stern action against those found wanting.

Commission chairperson Peter Chingaipe said the misuse of fire arms by officers should be curtailed at all costs because it had led to loss of innocent lives. Mr Chingaipe observed that the public has in the recent past lost confidence in the Police Service because of misconduct by some disgruntled officers. Mr Chingaipe said the command must endeavour to bring back the lost public confidence, therefore officers are expected to show undivided loyalty, highest integrity and professionalism. Mr Chingaipe said this when he addressed police officers from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport KKIA where he toured Airport Division in Lusaka yesterday. He said the misuse of fire arms by officers was a worrisome issue which had led to loss of innocent lives more especially the spouses and ordinary citizens. “This tendency of turning a fire arm on fellow officers, spouses or ordinary citizens must come to an end failure to which the law will take its course. You have been taught when and where a fire arm should be used,” said Mr Chingaipe. Meanwhile, Mr Chingaipe has warned that the commission would take disciplinary action against any officer who would be found leaking confidential information with the public. He observed that many officers were involved in the dissemination of confidential information through the use of social media and other platforms. He said it was sad that people entrusted with information were no longer trusted and such posed a threat on national security. “You should refrain from such acts because once caught, the commission will discipline you accordingly and a number of confidential matters have been exposed to the general public, this is against the oath you undertook for upholding confidentiality,” he said.