[ 2016-08-22 ]

A dead man doesn’t provide security; Police PRO justifies abandoning of post
The Director of Police Public Affairs, Sup. Cephas
Arthur says the service had no choice but to
withdraw its personnel from Donkorkrom after
rioters attacked them and destroyed the police
post there.

According to him, the Inspector General of Police
is on his way to the town to assess the situation
for himself.

In a response to a question about why the police
withdrew their services when they are supposed to
provide protection for residents, Sup. Arthur said
if the life of the officer is in danger then there
will be no point staying in the town.

“A dead man doesn’t provide protection so for
the moment it is just appropriate that we
withdraw, re-strategize and see whether the
conditions will permit a return to work,” he
told host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Kojo
Yankson.

The Inspector General of police has announced a
withdrawal of personnel from Donkorkrom in the
Eastern Region following a riot last week.

The residents called for the removal of police
personnel from the town after reports of their
involvement in the robbery of a GCB bullion van.

Although the IGP has been criticized for
considering a withdrawal of his personnel, with
some calling it unlawful, Sup. Arthur said there
is nothing wrong with the decision.

Related: 5 in critical condition, 16 injured in
Donkorkrom police shootout

“If members of a community are aggrieved by any
situation and they decide to take the law into
their own hands and attack the local police,
vandalise their local police station and logistics
such that there is no office accommodation to
operate from, then the police cannot work.

“They attacked the police barracks and burnt
down about 4 rooms and looted property such that
the police don’t have any place to lay their
heads, then you don’t expect that these officers
will be comfortable enough to discharge their
mandate,” he continued.

Sup. Arthur said the police do not feel safe in
the community because they were personally
targeted by the residents.

He said if the offices of the police and even
their accommodation have been vandalized by the
very people they are supposed to protect, “how
do you expect them to work.”

He added that until the police post and
accommodation are put in order, the police will
stay away.

Related: Police launches investigation into bank
bullion van attack

Sup. Arthur regrets that the innocent citizens
will have to pay for the crimes of the unlawful
minority but insists “that is why we have to be
each other’s keeper.

“When someone is doing something wrong, you
volunteer information to the police, you say
something to stop the person from doing that,”
he added.

He, however said some plain-clothed policemen are
still in the town and will do their best to ensure
the place is safe.

The Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs
and Research at the Kofi Anan International
Peacekeeping Training Centre, Dr Kwesi Aning said
the police cannot withdraw their services from the
town.

Although he acknowledges that they were attacked
by residents, and their work has been made
difficult, withdrawing their services will send a
wrong signal to other criminals.

Related: REGSEC initiates background checks on
police officers in E/R

“The initial response that has been given that
'we are withdrawing our services because we
don’t have a place to sleep' sends a terribly
wrong signal of the failure of our emergency
response mechanism , the failure of our early
warning signs and thirdly that you can exchange
fire with the Ghana police service and they will
pull out.

“That signal must not go out because the long
term unintended impact is very negative not only
for the service but for the country as a whole,”
he stressed.

Dr Aning said creating the impression that
ordinary civilians can attack the police service
and they can retreat and have their properties
burnt down, sends a very dangerous signal.

Related: Withdrawal of police personnel from
Donkorkrom unlawful – Lawyer

“Particularly because we live in a dangerous an
unstable sub-region, we cannot and we must not
have a situation where a signal is sent that
anyone at all can exchange fire with
representatives of the Ghana police service.”

He called on the police to immediately arrest the
culprits to serve as a deterrent to others.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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