Zanzibar — VICTIMS of police's last October crackdown of Uamsho Islamic group members in Zanzibar Stone Town should seek redress in courts of law, the Minister of State (Police operations), Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohammed said.
"Any person who was hurt during the operation, including loss of properties, should go to court," said Mohammed when answering questions from some legislators who complained against use of excessive force and misconduct by some police officers.
Lawmakers such as Mr Saleh Nassor Juma (CUF Wawi) had complained that, during the operation, some police officers unreasonably beat-up people and grabbed their properties. He asked whether "the police were above-the-law and allowed to beat up people."
Zanzibar's October unrest was sparked by clashes between police and the Uamsho Islamic group, following the disappearance of the group's leader, Sheikh Farid Hadi Ahmed, who later claimed that he had been kidnapped by people alleged to be police officers.
The minister said that police are not allowed to be brutal in any operation and said that it was unfortunate that some people were injured during the clean-up of Uamsho followers from the streets.
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Police use of excessive force, corruption and other misconduct hurts everyone – including the police -- in terms of lost cooperation, support and trust – which, in turn, diminishes their effectiveness. And remember: policing in a democracy is best accomplished by those who are carefully selected, well-trained and led, controlled in their use of force, honest, courteous to every person, and closely in touch with the communities they serve. For more, follow one police reformer’s blog at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com.