Foot patrol Police must have pepper spray, tasers- Benn

Declaring that disrespect to Police ranks by civilians must immediately stop, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn Wednesday said that patrol officers must have pepper spray, baton and tasers when executing their duties.

These items, he said, will be utilised if the need arises by the ranks to protect themselves.

“I don’t want Police men and women beaten on the road. We have said to the Police chiefs that the Police on the beat must have pepper spray, baton and taser.

“Police must be protected,” Benn said on Wednesday.

He was at the time addressing ranks gathered at the opening of the Sergeants and Inspectors annual conference held at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary.

Benn remarks was in response to a recent incident which was sparked public outage on social media after two Police ranks were seen scuffling with a civilian during a confrontation.

Benn described this behaviour as a complete “break down” of law and order.

“It should not happen. It’s a complete break down in law and order if Police men can be beaten on the road.

“We got to work on this quickly…Those who are providing the protection for peace and development can’t be beaten on the road and we can’t continue to have the disrespect which we are seeing,” Benn noted.

He said the measure of equipped ranks with items to protect themselves is one which is practiced by other jurisdiction.

“If we got to pull out the baton and strike them on the knee we can do so. They must think twice or thrice before they attempt to strike a policeman,” Benn said.