Policemen under investigation for alleged use of force

The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating an incident involving three police ranks — a Corporal, a Lance Corporal, and a Constable — of Regional Division Number Three, and two male civilians.

The incident occurred today at about 12:30 hrs at the West Central Mall, Leonora, West Coast Demerara (ECD), police said in a release.

In a video circulating on social media, one of the policemen is seen violently shoving a youth while another strikes him with a baton.

Police say preliminary investigations revealed that the ranks were responding to a disturbance involving several young males at the West Central Mall.

The release claimed that at the location, two males — a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old, both of Den Amstel, WCD — who were reportedly behaving in a disorderly manner, were pointed out to the ranks.

According to the release, the officers approached the individuals and instructed them to leave the premises.

The individuals reportedly refused to comply, resulting in the ranks attempting to escort them out of the compound.

The matter is currently under investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).