The Government of Belize continues to wrestle with its Tier Three Human Traffic rating from the US State Department. And one area that needs urgent attention is the practice of police working security at bars where human traffic victims are employed as waitresses and engage in commercial sex work.
For the police it's called special duty - and it earns regular cops big money from private companies and establishments - as much as 10 dollars per hour. But while it's a welcome stream of income for those officers, the 2017 trafficking in persons report noted that this practice sends a message that police are on the side - and on the payroll - of the traffickers.
We got reports last week that the police senior command was cracking down on this practice - and prohibiting police from working security at those shady establishments. Today we asked the commissioner if indeed such a directive was sent. He wasn't happy with the question:
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"I will tell you - obviously you asking me that question is because somebody have told you certain things and I'll tell you up front that I had a meeting with commanders and I gave them certain instructions and I can tell you that come tomorrow I will be issuing a instruction that no police officer should work special duty at any business establishment, period. And those officer who want to work at any establishment will need to apply to the commissioner of police. I will review those applications, I will ensure that it is legitimate, above the board businesses and then I will make a decision. This is nothing because the police standing orders authorizes officers that who wants to work special duty that they must apply to the commissioner of police. That system had been warp and disregarded and there is offices taking on all kinds of special duties and making their own arrangement."
"There is also where persons once authorized to work, the money should be paid in by the proprietor who hired them to the department. It is entered in and then they are given a receipt and then there is time period where those officers would then get that processed through the account section and get their payment."
"There is a lot of over the board things and this allows some officers to be compromised where it would appear that they are working for and proving protection to certain business establishment, rather than been there to preserve law and order. It will stop, because as I said tomorrow I will issue an instruction and any officer found in contravention will be dealt with disciplinary."
Reporter
"Is that a specific to anti-human trafficking concerns?"
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"All business establishment. I will not single one above the other. All business establishment. This is a discipline organization and we need to ensure that discipline and the processes are maintain as I say. Officers who want to work special duty, the standing orders say they must apply to the commissioner of police for permission. The police department is not a private security force."
As you heard, the Commissioner will be insisting that all applications for these extra duties must come to him. His crackdown suggests that if officers don't follow that regulation, they will be disciplined.
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