Police forms independent complaints commission
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has set-up an independent police complaints commission (IPCC).
The commission is a result of concerns from Malawians about lack of independence in the way police handle cases involving fellow officers.
Speaking during the official opening of consultative meetings aimed at getting information from stakeholders on how the body will operate, Inspector General of Police Lot Dzonzi said once established, the IPCC will help change the negative perception.
“IPCC will help the Police to be accountable in its dealings. Accountability by police is important because it enhances people’s confidence in police. Police officers hold a unique position in society because they can strip citizens of their liberty, privacy, property and in extreme cases, even lives,” said Dzonzi.
He said many Malawians feel the Police are biased when investigating cases involving fellow officers; hence, the need to establish the commission which will go a long way in improving the image of MPS.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Often Thyolani said the Internal Affairs Unit within the Police has not given much confidence to the general public when investigating cases against fellow officers.
“The establishment of an independent body will give confidence to the citizens and cases will be thoroughly investigated and concluded in a fair manner,” said Thyolani.
The new body will be established under part eight of the Police Act.
The formation of the independent police commission is long overdue in Malawi. A lot of people have died in police custody or in other police brutality actions but no single police officer has ever been brought to book or made answerable to their actions.
Whilst the formation of this commission is highly welcomed, my only worry is that instead of this commission being formed by the August house, it is being formed by the police, the organisation the commission is supposed to monitor and hold to account, so how truly independent would this commission be then?
Here in the UK, if a police officer has shot dead a person, that person is not touched or moved from the scene until the police complains commission has completed their investigation on the shooting. The police complaints commission in the UK has got powers to prosecute the police officer if the evidence suggest a wrong doing on the side of the police.
If Malawi want to have a truly independent police commission then they should take the UK police complains commission as their model otherwise it will just be another smoke screen organisation to be used by the powers that be to cover up their asses when they fuckup.