Interior minister Shaikh Rashid stresses police accountability

Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa today ordered an inquiry into policemen’s violations. A committee chaired by Public Security Chief Major General Tariq Hassan Al-Hassan has been tasked to survey the violations and study means of addressing them. The measure followed a video footage posted on the internet showing a policemen slapping a citizen in Aali. Lt. Gen Shaikh Rashid slammed policemen’s violations being posted on social websites as they amount to a denigration of human dignity. He said that the violations embarrass every policemen who assume their duties with great dedication and probity. “Such outraging acts do not reflect the code of discipline enforced by the ministry”, he said, pointing out the detrimental impact of the violations on the role of policemen who work round the clock to protect national security and ensure people’s safety. The minister pointed out that some of video footages show violations committed at an earlier time. He urged any complainants to report any violations they might have undergone, stressing the importance of cementing community partnership and building bridges of confidence between the security forces and society. AHN