Ban on surveillance devices another blow to members' rights (41/10)
28 September 2010
The Police Association and many of its members are seriously concerned with the latest Chief Commissioner’s Instruction (CCI 09/10) which effectively prohibits members from covertly recording another member in non-operational circumstances.
This latest CCI appeared in the latest edition of The Gazette dated 27 September 2010.
The Association does not encourage members recording other members in a covert fashion however, regrettably, on some occasions it is a necessary step in order to protect themselves.
This latest CCI is effectively in conflict with the provisions of the Surveillance Devices Act and, yet again, we find our members being in a position where legislative rights that are available to every other citizen are being denied to our members.
Additionally, there is no definition of “non-operational” or “operational” circumstances in the CCI.
Our concern is such that we have written to the Chief Commissioner, raising our serious and legitimate concerns, and asking that he reconsider the issue of this instruction.
