Don’t pay money for bail - Police administration

Ghana Police Service has sounded a word of caution to the general public against corrupting police personnel by giving them bribes or paying for release of suspects in various police stations in the country.

The Police Administration observed with great concern reports of bribery and corruption at various police stations in Ghana and stated that any policeman or woman who demanded bribe should be reported to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) unit for disciplinary action.

Answering questions in an exclusive interview with Today, the Director of Police Public Relations, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Cephas Arthur, insisted that "bailing suspects in police stations is still free, stressing that no one should pay money for it in Ghana again."

He emphasised that the police, “have a zero tolerance for that: paying money to free suspects in police stations in Ghana.”

“I am appealing to members of the public, do not corrupt policemen and women. It is against the law of Ghana Police Service," he cautioned.

“If police officers ask you for bribe and you refuse to give, and you have avenues where your grievances can be ventilated, I do not see any reason why you should give them bribe. The Commissioner of Police is there, the Inspector General of Police is there, the Director of CID is there, our office is there and the technical platform. ...we have opened ourselves to public accountability, so report any police officer who demands money from you before bail,” DSP Arthur further stressed.

Today reported in its Monday, June 28, 2015 edition that in some parts of the country, some police commands ordered personnel to openly collect monies from people who visited police stations and tried to access police service and assistance.

In the current circumstances, another police practice that has become rampant, Today reported, was the police asking complainants to use their own money to fuel police vehicles before they could go along with them to attend to whatever issues they brought to the station.

Today in the above report noted that the police ask drivers whose vehicles had been involved in accidents to pay from GHC1,000.00 to GHC1,500.00 or their vehicles would not be towed from the accident spot.

On the other hand, Today said, the police ask complainants to pay from GHC100.00 to 200.00 before they would get service that was supposed to be free.

The Police PRO described some police stations in Ghana as "safe haven for bribe and corrupt practices.

However, he promised his outfit's commitment and preparedness to devise administrative and technical measures to tackle the problem.

“We are sending the message loud and clear that we will not allow any miscreant(s) within the police force to turn Ghana into a lawless state. Wherever we find them, we will pursue them; we will arrest and prosecute them,” he affirmed.

He revealed that the IGP had warned civilians to stop bribing the police when they find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

As a good citizen, you are to stop bribing the police when the law catches up with you—a point the IGP hammered when he toured some regions in Ghana to launch the campaign of a public confidence re-affirmation.

The campaign, DSP Arthur noted, was aimed at restoring confidence in the Police Service, saying that the project will require the rolling out of significant policing strategies.

According to him, the IGP recognised the contribution the public could give to the police in fighting bribery and crime in society.