How police should handle suspects in custody

by Ram Perera

(September 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) In the recent past several suspects died whilst attempting to escape from custody when the suspects were taken to locate weapons. The stories behind the deaths are too hard to believe. The latest victim is suspect Navy Asanka. These suspects are always taken handcuffed. If the suspects are taken without hand cuffing them, I say that the officers in charge of the suspect/s at the time are violating Police guidelines. Assuming they were handcuffed still it is possible for them to run, but they cannot run fast.

I remember in one instance it was alleged that the suspect picked up a weapon from the location and attempted to use it on the officers and the officers opened fire in self defence. All those suspects who died were notorious criminals and one would say their elimination is a blessing to the society. However all of them are innocent in the eyes of the law until found guilty. So it shouldn’t happen that way.

My suggestion is when taking a suspect to recover/locate hidden weapons it is best that the suspect’s two hands are handcuffed to two officers so that the suspect will not have a free hand and cannot run. In the Seventies a Police Officer friend told me how he handled a dangerous suspect this way when the suspect was taken to find the hidden weapons. Why not the Police try this and save the suspect’s life to enable a Court of law to decide on his guilt? Further like the handcuffs, similar ones could be used on a suspect’s legs at the ankle. Then no running at all. Over to you Mr IGP for suitable action!