7 News Belize

What Are Police Powers Of Search
posted (September 23, 2015)

And earlier this week, Commander Williams had to do some special community intervention at the home of a southside resident who say police stormed into her home un announced and without justification. Williams apologized to her and spoke to the officers as well, but it raises the deeper question of what are the limits of the police in home searches. We followed up on that:…

Reporter

"What are the entry and search procedures? What are police allowed and not allowed?"

Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside

"The police do have a right to enter the premises of people to conduct search. There are times when the police are in hot pursuit, they may see somebody running and in the process of running they go into a house; the law allows the police to go in immediately after that person to apprehend. Now in terms of just ordinarily going to a person home, then it would require the police to take along a search warrant. And even thought under the firearms act, the police do not need to carry a search warrant. I will still emphasize with my officers to be on the safe side, to take along a search warrant."

Jules Vasquez

"Is this a case where everyday practice runs afoul of what is the law? Your constitutional right to privacy is regularly breached by police officers who once you live in a certain neighborhood and you have a certain socio-economic profile. It's like the song says, as you see me, you give me; they could come into your house unannounced, anything. You know that's the practice Mr. Williams and you know its not legal."

Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside

"That was not the case Jules."

Jules Vasquez

"That was not the case in this case but it often happens."

Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside

"Like I said Jules, we have been trying to do things differently and we are trying not to stereotype or not profile people; how we deal with people. What we are trying to develop is to see how we could target people in a systematic way through intelligence led policing."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize