Police Indiscipline: Police Oversight Agencies as Agents of Police Control in the Caribbean

This article considers the concept of indiscipline and the manifestations of indiscipline as it relates to the police and other law enforcement bodies within Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana. It explores briefly the ramifications of police indiscipline on the wider society, including the potentially irremediable harm it may have on the Public’s trust and confidence in enforcers of the law. It introduces the various models of oversight and considers independent civilian oversight as a solution to the issue of police indiscipline. It considers the legislative and regulatory framework of oversight in the three selected jurisdictions. It makes subtle comparisons of oversight in the respective jurisdictions which reveal that while the legislative framework in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica affords the citizenry independent civilian oversight of law enforcement, Guyana is configured as an internal affairs model. It considers the effectiveness of police oversight in keeping rogue elements in check and ensuring accountability of the Police for acts or omissions which may amount to indiscipline or misconduct.