Police set up Professional Standards Unit
Malawi Police Service (MPS) has established the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) to investigate allegations of its officers’ involvement in acts of misconduct.
The development comes amid rising reports of police officers’ involvement in armed robberies and corruption, among other crimes.
In April this year, statistics from public records compiled by The Nation revealed that more than 30 police officers nationwide were arrested during the preceding year for their involvement in organised crimes some of which resulted in the death of several innocent citizens.
The most serious case was the arrest of 10 police officers in Salima District who allegedly stole public property worth millions of kwacha.
Commissioner of police for Southern Region, George Kainja, said in an interview the unit is operating at regional level and reports directly to the Inspector General (IG) of Police through the deputy IG responsible for administration.
Each policing region has about eight specially trained professional standards’ officers while others are operating at the police headquarters in Lilongwe, said Kainja.
Last week, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Atupele Muluzi said the police service was also in the process of establishing an independent Police Complaints Commission (PCC) which he hoped would also contribute towards enhancement of integrity and professionalism among police officers.
