THE POLICE: OUR FRIENDS OR FRIENDS OF CRIMINALS?

Recently, I visited a police station because I had been informed of the arrest of someone known to the family. The call came in that morning from one of the arresting officers who was known to the family. At the station, we were told that this person had escaped from custody. The story was that he went out to urinate and took to his heels afterwards. I was really shocked at first but later on, that shock turned into anger. I was angry because it became clear that he had been allowed to escape and not the story that he had escaped on his own accord. There and then I realized that I was in danger! Fellow citizens, I am sorry to say this but we are all in danger!

Each day, other suspects and criminals alike escape just as this person escaped. I got to know about this particular escape because I knew the person involved but what about those that happen that we are unaware of?

Several criminals escape from our police stations all the time, each day without us knowing! Picture this: You report a hardened criminal in your neighbourhood one morning and he/she gets arrested. You then go about your normal life activities thinking that you are safe since this criminal is out of your way. Unknown to you and just like the person I spoke about earlier on, he escapes or worse still, is aided by the police to escape and you now find yourself being confronted by this criminal later on, what then happens to you? Who do you report to afterwards of you manage to escape the confrontation alive? This is a serious issue since it can be life threatening.

If criminals in our police stations are escaping or being aided to escape, then we are all in danger. Do not even for once think that you are safe because most often, these people escape their towns or cities of arrest and resettle elsewhere and this may be your village, town, city, neighbourhood or even your country.

Our police stations are supposed to be safe houses and places where criminals cannot escape but clearly from what I witnessed that day, we are all living in a fool’s paradise. There should be no reason for the escape of anyone arrested and held in police custody.

There was also something else I witnessed that day; this police station was totally in a state of lawlessness, a free zone perhaps. Ordinarily, I thought that before anyone could talk to someone in a cell or even at the counter-back, authorization had to be given by the policeman/woman present. I was shocked when one young man walked into this station, stood by the counter and started shouting out to a friend locked up in one of the cells right in the presence of the police officers on duty at that time. An attempt by one of the police women to shut him up fell on deaf ears. This young man was clearly at home as he kept on shouting out his message along with profanities.

If this is the atmosphere in most of our police stations, is it then surprising when criminals now run into our police stations in search of arms and even attack police officers on duty? With such an atmosphere in most of our police stations, it is so clear how some people return from our cells without making any change for the better. They rather pick up worse attitudes and do not care being arrested again; they get used to the atmosphere. I thought suspects and criminals were to feel intimidated by our police stations but what I saw that day left more to be desired. If this is what is happening in our police stations, I wonder what is happening in our prisons and it is then not surprising to see the current increases in chaos on our streets; lawlessness on the rampage.

Our police men and women are supposed to be our friends but with their conditions at work and even at home, they are gradually becoming the friends of criminals. These days, most people do not even want to go to the police station to lodge complaints but rather prefer to settle their own cases. The resultant is the mob justice we read of or even watch on television these days often leading to the death of innocent people. This cannot continue!

The police administration should sit up and look into this issue. Our police men and women should take up their roles more seriously and conduct themselves in the manner expected as law enforcement agents. Today, they may not see the direct impacts of their actions and inactions but tomorrow, it will be felt if not by them but by people close and dear to them. What do you gain from allowing a suspect to run free? Any police officer guilty of this crime is as guilty as that suspect and even worse as a law enforcement agent. I believe a lot of our law enforcement agents and agencies need to be investigated from time to time in order to effectively assess their performance.

There was another thing I realized that day since this was my first visit to a police station. The whole place looked dirty and even smelly. The atmosphere did not echo or dictate discipline. I think our police men and women deserve better working conditions and our police stations need a face lift. The floor area looked so dirty and for the seats and counter, I did not want to sit on any to even consider touching the counter. All looked so dirty and I wonder the state of most of the cells.

In Ghana, there is a common trend in locating our police stations. Most of our police stations apart from some of the regional offices are all dilapidated structures. The structures functioning as our police stations are all in terrible states. Even in some towns, the police stations are found attached to some residential buildings and I wonder if they pay rent for that. As for their residential accommodations, I cannot even begin to describe it. How unfortunate!

What kind of excuse can we continue giving? In saying this, I wish I could shout out! Clearly, there are a lot of things wrong with the system in Ghana and our agencies especially the governmental ones! How long must we wait to see the change we want? How can we combat crime if the very institutions responsible are all facing problems of logistics? We pride ourselves in calling this country a developing country but the basic infrastructure and foundations required for this development are either nonexistent or in terrible states.

Oh Ghana, Oh Ghana, when? How long must we wait? We keep hearing people talking about change but I am yet to see this change we so often talk about and hear. I am tired of to listening to the same things all the time!

When it comes to our law enforcement agencies, there should be no compromise! The atmosphere in our police stations should be one that commands respect and discipline. The time to act is now and this call goes to the responsible ministry. As citizens, we should also make a strong appeal. If our police stations are not safe anymore, then we are all in danger!

We cannot enjoy the safety of our homes if our police stations and police men/women are encouraging suspects and criminals to run free. We cannot enjoy the safety of our homes if our very own law enforcement agencies and agents are not equipped enough to protect us. If our own police men are being attacked in our police stations, what then becomes of the ordinary citizen walking the streets, at the work place or at home? Even our churches are not being spared these days.

I know there are some law enforcement agents out there who still know the true meaning of the ‘law enforcement’ and hence carry on with their responsibilities diligently. I salute them all! For those who have with time and through no fault of theirs. The time to act is now! We cannot wait any longer! We are tired of waiting! This is a matter of life and danger!

Published: Daily Graphic (13^th Oct. 2010).