Public invited to take part in police vetting

National Police Service Commission Chairman Johnstone Kavuludi. Mr Kavulundi said that the public has been asked to submit information about officers in the second phase of police vetting. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • National Police Service Commission chairman Johnstone Kavuludi said the vetting will not target ranks. He said the targeted vetting approach, involving about 12,000 police officers, will be used.
  • Commissioner Murshid Mohammed said the first phase of vetting, which is part of police reforms, was successful despite a few problems, among them the resignation of nine members of the panel.

The public has been asked to submit information about officers in the second phase of police vetting.

Officers commanding stations, their deputies, those in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and traffic department will be vetted in the second phase.

The date is yet to be announced.

National Police Service Commission chairman Johnstone Kavuludi said the vetting will not target ranks. He said the targeted vetting approach, involving about 12,000 police officers, will be used.

“Targeted vetting relies on complaints about officers from the public or fellow police officers,” Mr Kavuludi said.

A list of officers to be vetted will also be published in the daily papers.

“Information concerning abuse of office, corruption, human rights violations and misuse of equipment will help us,” Mr Kavuludi said.

Commissioner Murshid Mohammed said the first phase of vetting, which is part of police reforms, was successful despite a few problems, among them the resignation of nine members of the panel.

“Another problem was that the public were not too keen on giving information to the panel,” Mr Mohammed said.

The commission plans to vet a total 77,495 officers. The screening began with the seven most senior officers in December 2013 and lasted for two days.

The second and third group of officers numbering 320 were vetted in January, and February 2014. These included deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners.

Several officers, including three in the top command, have been found unsuitable to continue serving.