Security minister rejects allegations of inhumane conditions at Hunt's Bay and Denham Town police lock-ups
BY ROMARDO LYONS Staff reporter [email protected]
FOLLOWING a Sunday Observer exposé on the conditions of some police lock-ups across the Corporate Area, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang has indicated that he is aware of less than satisfactory conditions at three police lock-ups but these are not among the two named by the Observer.
"The three stations I am aware of that have problems are under repairs," said Chang as he pointed to the Central Police Station, Admiral Town Police Station and Olympic Gardens Police Station.
"We have moved detainees from Central to Tamarind Farm [Adult Correctional Centre]; that should be finished in a couple of weeks. Admiral Town is also due for fixing now… I think they need some additional procurement. And at Olympic Gardens there is a plumbing problem. They are being dealt with," added Chang.
He said he receives the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) reports on the state of lock-ups on a monthly basis and, "I do read them and they do a pretty good job on the stations' conditions".
The Sunday Observer highlighted complaints of four men who had been held in lock-ups at Denham Town and Hunt's Bay police stations in the west Kingston and St Andrew South police divisions, respectively.
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