Female Police Officers at Brusubi Police Station Harassed Over Rohey Malick Lowe’s Photo Bearing the Station During Gala Youths Protests Saga.
Human rights are inherent entitlements that all individuals possess, regardless of race, nationality, or any other status. Professional standards, on the other hand, are guidelines and expectations that define appropriate behavior, skills, and conduct within a specific profession, in this case, the police force. They ensure competence, integrity, and accountability within the workplace.
Human rights are not granted by governments or societies but are inherent to all individuals. They involve protecting individuals from abuse and promoting their well-being, especially the right to life, liberty, freedom of expression, education, and a just trial. The Gambia Police Force’s Human Rights and Professional Standards (HRPS) unit is concerned with what appears to be the frequent harassment, intimidation, and abuse of some police officers, most notably women in the force who have endured silence sufferings in the hands of their perceived bosses.
Recently, Sergeant Agustus Marie Silva, who served 15 years, Corporal Fatou Kanyi, who served about nine years, and Sub-Inspector Mama Sonko, with a decade of service, were paraded at the police headquarters by Deputy Commissioner of Police Lamin Jaiteh. They were questioned about allowing GALA youths, who were held at Brusubi Police Station, to take photos with Rohey Malic Lowe, showing the station in the background. These officers were shocked to realize they had no idea how or when these photos were taken. Mayor Lowe had come to show solidarity with some of the GALA detainees.
This issue has been politicized, and even the Commissioner of the West Coast Region, Famara Jallow, was unaware that men under his designation had been unlawfully paraded at the police headquarters. They were ordered to answer unimaginable and frivolous questions, such as why they allowed Rohey Lowe to take pictures with GALA youths showing Brusubi Police Station in the background.
My sources further highlighted that Chief Superintendent of Police Mr. Kah expressed similar disappointment at how people had been undermined and took this matter to the Police Headquarters without following proper procedures. These female officers have been traumatized and treated as if they have violated a law. Their only crime was allowing Rohey Malic Lowe’s photos to feature the station at a time when they were on duty that day. Since then, they have been reporting to the police headquarters, wasting their valuable time and subjecting them to stress, intimidation, and potentially harassment.
The Gender Unit, as well as the Human Rights and Professional Standards Unit, should jointly investigate this matter to ensure these women are protected and accorded the dignity, respect, and necessary care they need.
The Gambia Police Force is hereby put on notice that the GPF is a reputable institution that should not be politicized. The actions by DCP Lamin Jaiteh undermine the security sector reform and further put the police in the middle of politics, which is catastrophic. I call on the Inspector General of Police and the President of our republic Mr. Adama Barrow to fully equip the office of HRPS to crisscross the various stations in the country, many of which are deficient in human rights standards. This will enable them to solve cases without interference.
I can authoritatively state that HRPS doesn’t even have a single operational vehicle to carry out their enormous task of investigating human rights violations within the ranks and files of the GPF. Based on the mandate assigned to the Police HRPS Unit by the Inspector General of Police (Directives 2021), they have unfettered powers to investigate anyone, regardless of their ranks, to establish justice, discipline, and professionalism among serving members.
Notably, the slapping incident at Tangi where a police officer was seen striking a civilian was investigated, and recommendations were made to the IGP office. However, those officers involved were taken back to the same tangi unit. Also, some instances of police corruption and officers involved in heinous crimes, such as police officers taking money from vendors in Basse, where Momodou Lamin Sonko was implicated in the matter, are being brushed under the carpet. Additionally, officers serving as land dealers by taking D300,000 from people in Basse are amongst the complex issues handled by the HRPS. I called on government of the Gambia, GPF, businesses and donor partners to help donate atleast ten pick-ups to HRPS to bring sanity of discipline and compliance into the force.
Human rights are often enshrined in any international law and national constitutions, where everyone is entitled to their human rights without any discrimination. Therefore, this body will outline ethical guidelines and expectations for how professionals should behave in their work. In short, professional standards will help build trust, ensure quality of service, and hold professionals accountable.
